Just Mumming 8 - the one with the fire crawlers, wind machines and the Health Visitor revolt

[WilHarlot]

Add your stats Viroids (or don't bother). I feel like there's something I'm supposed to write here but don't know what it is...

I've used water wipes since birth pretty much (and occasionally aldi fragrance free ones) but do use cotton wool pads if she needs her eyes washed. She gets sticky eyes - they're not grubby or anything. She hates baths so we do them infrequently. We stopped trying them as a bedtime thing pretty quickly as she got so worked up. She had one earlier with daddy as she had a mega shit that exploded up and out of the nappy. Not her first one of the day and as it turns out not her last either.... There's a pile of shit soaked clothes, the playmat and the rocking chair cover sat waiting to go in the washing machine she's a bit out of sorts poor love. She has been covered in a rash for a couple of days and now the exploding arse. She hasn't got a temperature but she's super clingy and was off her food.

Our nighttime routine is nappy change, change into sleepsuit and sleeping bag and then boob to sleep. Pretty basic. I used to start her cot mobile when I came into the bedroom to feed her but recently I've tried Ewan again with some success so I don't regard him as such a useless shit anymore. I am the only one who puts her to bed. I don't usually mind but last night I went to put her to bed during the rugby. I'd put tea on and there were timers set so the boys would know when the food was ready. They did their best Chuckle fucking Brothers act. I eventually smelled food burning long after the timers had gone off and had to come downstairs to turn things off and shout at them. Then I had to get back to BabyPis who was most annoyed about being interrupted and I could hear them arguing between themselves for the next ten minutes about whose fault it was whilst doing fuck all to make sure we were getting fed. DS did make an attempt to start blaming me for not giving them detailed instructions before putting the baby to bed but got shut down pretty quickly. I wasn't interested in which of them was more to blame but two (almost) adults should have been able to manage it!

I often do long stints with BabyPis in the sling. She is usually pretty happy so long as I am moving. I've just started back carries with the buckles and that has revolutionised my day! I get to hoover and mop the floors now. This is as exciting as my life gets

I had a letter from work to say they're inviting voluntary redundancies this week and will start the process of making compulsory redundancies next week. No idea if I'm in the firing line or not so just waiting it out for now. Not sure how I feel about the idea. I've been there a while and I know the package is better that stat minimum so I'd get a decent lump but it wouldn't last long if I didn't find another job pretty quickly. But on the other hand I wasn't loving my job and taking enhanced mat pay would have locked me in for a while so this could be liberating.

Dulcet they are cardboard letters with some padding then covered in fabric. The fabric is stitched on the edges. I'll post a pic on Facebook for you.

Poor babypis. Hope her arse stops exploding soon! Pis - Mrpopz has done that to me with dinner SO many times. Once time I just asked him to turn a pan of pasta off when it was done. Which he did. And then just fucking left the pasta sat in the water until I came down so it went all soggy and massive. Knobtard.

You can buy those cardboard letters from HobbyCraft Dulce x

Evening!

Oh the high pitched screams! Lordy lordy.
R has discovered w what her voice can do and just shouts and squeals to get our attention.
Tiring.
Specially in public.
We had a wake up at 3:30! Was gutted, just getting used to sleep again.
Would only settle with milk and then I couldn't get back to sleep. So am knackered.
She's also reverted back to being needed to be rocked to sleep, I'm putting it down to leap 7!

Oh poor babypis. Hope she's better soon.

We're on sensitive wipes. We did have water wipes in hospital which no one batted an eyelid about. B hated them though, they are far wetter than other wipes. He stopped screaming when having his nappy changed when we ran out of water wipes and switched to the others.

DM just made me feel bad about bedtimes. She thinks it's ridiculous for me to sit with him upstairs in the dark. DH agreed with her. So after his last bottle when he was screaming and overtired I took him upstairs and put him in his sleeping bag in the crib. The angelcare is on, if it has loads of false alarms again then it will be good exercise for me! As will checking on him regularly. I feel I'm being neurotic but I'm so scared, he's a tiny boy and he's meant to be with us at all times but he just won't settle down here. I feel like I'm being selfish for sitting downstairs but I've only just put our tea in the oven and I need time with DH too. I also need wine but I'm still on fcuking antibiotics

Ooh ooh I'm having wine tonight! J is 2 weeks old tomorrow so DP goes back to work at 4am and I have to do the school run with the 2 of them. Suspect I wont be dressed in actual clothes or showered for it.

Envious of wine!!!

Will catch up properly tomorrow

Just wanted to say to purple - that's YOUR baby not your DMs, stick to your guns if you believe something is best for your baby, you know him best xx

Envious of wine! And also of Baines that go down and give you your eventing! M starts feeding at 5/6 and I'm lucky if she stops for long enough for me to eat dinner without her attached. Agree with la though- don't let anyone dictate how you look after your little boy purple fwiw I don't think you're being ridiculous at all!

We used wipes in the hospital (not even water ones!) But pretty soon switched to cotton wool. We have a little pot by the changing mat which I keep topped up with pre dampened cotton wool pads (not balls- to many fluffy bits!). We get through loads, but cheaper than water wipes and gentle on her skin!

*Baines = babies.. thanks auto correct!

Yeah, that is bad purple. Do what you think is best! You know the advice, they probably don't. I quite fancy sitting in the dark in the evening, having a snooze!

Good luck in the morning ga. You got this, and if that means going in PJs with sick in your hair then so be it!

We still haven't perfected how to eat dinner together, whilst it's warm with the baby yet mountain and we are coming up on three months! Would help if he slept...

We have cheeky wipes here and I'm loving them! It's just tiny bits of flannel really but much easier with the poos as there's some meat to it and not all flimsy. Was on cotton wool before that. We still aren't using any products in the bath, just water. Should we be??

Yeah, that is bad purple. Do what you think is best! You know the advice, they probably don't. I quite fancy sitting in the dark in the evening, having a snooze!

Good luck in the morning ga. You got this, and if that means going in PJs with sick in your hair then so be it!

We still haven't perfected how to eat dinner together, whilst it's warm with the baby yet mountain and we are coming up on three months! Would help if he slept...

We have cheeky wipes here and I'm loving them! It's just tiny bits of flannel really but much easier with the poos as there's some meat to it and not all flimsy. Was on cotton wool before that. We still aren't using any products in the bath, just water. Should we be??

I think product wise for baths and wipes it depends on your baby and their skin, some will be more sensitive than others. We used stuff in the bath from a few weeks and she's fine with it, but is still on sensitive newborn wipes as she squeals if we use any of the 'normal wipes' on her bits at nappy change, yet is absolutely fine with sensitive ones. Totally depends on your baby!

purple you do what you think is right! I sat upstairs with H in our room when she went to sleep for nearly 6 months, I'd just have the lights down low and the TV on mute with subtitles! I was happier seeing her :)

Hi all!

First day back on my own it is soo nice to have another pair of hands to help!

Woke to S laying in a wet sleepyhead - he had completely soaked through a pampers baby dry so I have the joy of battling with the cover later.

So, evening routine revelation - Ewan the dream sheep! He eschewed it for weeks, increasing the volume of his screaming of it was turned on but Friday night after bath, massage and boob I thought I would give it a go. S was asleep in 15 mins! It worked last night too. Keeping my fingers crossed.

Last night he slept from 8pm until 2am, fed until 2.45am (do all of your babies take this long to feed?) and then slept until 6am. Star!

I have started going back swimming 3 times per week in the evening/ at the weekend. I love it! and have a cheeky 10 mins in the steam room for a bit of me time

Wine - I am partaking of the odd glass. Are any other bfers? Usually after I have given my last feed and know there will be 4/5 hours until I am required again. Is this ok?

Routines - I just concentrate on the evening routine really. From keeping a diary I know I need to feed S at 4pm to stand a chance of feeding him at 7.15pm and getting him to go to sleep. He needs to be hungry in order to take a full feed. So, I work to that.

If S is hungry at say, 3pm I give him a short feed and then try to distract him with toys until 4pm.

The rest of the time I tend to go with the flow. However if I am going out, I will try to boob him for half an hour before so that I can get to where I am going without a meltdown. Plus he usually sleeps in the car/ pram and so may have a decent nap if he has had boob beforehand.

Sling - I am still using the caboo but am rapidly looking towards getting something like an ergo or connecta. DH just cannot fathom the caboo but loves taking S out in a sling. I get so annoyed showing him for the hundredth time how to put it on and then he holds on to S whilst walking as he doesn't think it feels secure. He refuses to read the instructions.
If we go out for the day with it, S will usually only tolerate it for up to two hours at a time but will go back in it after a feed and a little play. I have only done longer trips with DH so we can swap as I find it is starting to hurt my back after too long.

Right, off to sort out the pee soaked sleepyhead

Sounds like you're doing amazingly fleur! Mrpopz never got on with the caboo either tbh. Wine and bf is fine. I usually have a couple of glasses a week now

Aw purple - don't let DM upset you. He is your baby and if it makes you happy to sit with him then carry on with that. He's only tiny for a short time.

We've always used bath products on minipopz. He seems to be tough as old boots though

Oh and good luck on the school run ga!

I am so sure I typed a post last night. It's totally not disappeared!

Basically was saying to purple your baby your rules. If you want to sit in a dark room with baby then just you do it. I can't remember how old your DS is, but is he not still very young? We did absolutely everything we could to help calm our DD.

Your DH should have been putting the dinner in the oven for you. And bringing it to you.

Point them towards SIDS/NHS guidelines if they give you any more chat.

We had no dramatic middle of the night screams or visits from the police and DD in quite a cheery mood entertaining herself just now. Think I may slope off into the shower!

How did the school run go ga? I'm in my first day home alone too but the most I have to do is get up to the doctors surgery at some point, and it's tipping down with rain so I might even wait until DH gets home so he can drive me rather than have a soggy walk. might just be an afternoon of Netflix. I've managed to have a shower (though only got as far as underwear and dressing gown) and feed baby several times... Is it bad I can't actually remember if it's 2 or 3 since he left for work? I think 3.

fleur your routine sounds great, well done.

purple I echo what others have said, if it works for you then stuff what they think! I can't imagine leaving my lo alone to sleep all evening yet, I think ours are pretty much the same age (can't remember if you or I were first though sorry!) but if it works for you to be upstairs and that's where you're both happy at the moment then that's what you should do.

So who was asking about how long it takes to feed? I can't find it but thought there was a post. We take a good 45 mins for a two boob feed though that includes a good 10 minutes of fighting off my boob before she gives in and latches on at the moment- what is with that? She roots around, licks, nuzzles and mashes them with her hands, gets frustrated and cries, but doesn't latch for ages. I get frustrated and cry a bit too sometimes :( I've tried expressing some first as I think I have a fast let down but it doesn't seem to make a lot of difference. then eventually she eats, falls asleep, I change her nappy to wake her up and then see if she wants boob number 2 or not after that. I hope we get the hang of bf soon as at the moment I can't imagine managing it in public since it's got more tricky. Ive tried biological nurturing a bit too as recommended by the mw at the bf support group I went to last week but it doesn't seem to help, she still gets really frustrated and can't seem to find her place to latch on.

and for first days home alone! You'll get into your own little routine soon. Don't worry about setting your sights too high just yet. Getting out of bed is enough for now

Minipopz used to take ages and ages to feed... They get a lot more efficient as they get older and their mouths get bigger so they can latch more easily. As with all things baby: This Too Shall Pass x

Thanks girls. He's 4 weeks tomorrow. We had better luck with the angelcare, it didn't do false alarms but I watched it like a hawk. Also checked on him lots. We still had a calmer evening, he went down much better upstairs. I was a nervous wreck though.
We also used the monitor all night and no false alarms - we left the parent unit outside our bedroom. Think this must have been the issue before.
Last night he fed every 90 mins and I'm worn out. I managed to not put his nappy on properly and we got a poonami everywhere! He then projectiled his breakfast. So I left the house without coffee or breakfast - but I did get my nails done

Baby group next, it's raining so I'm taking the car

YY to just getting yourself out of bed and you both fed and changed in the early weeks.

Looking back I tried to do too much, I think to give the impression I could handle it, was a good mum etc. when really it just made everything worse - all S wanted at time was boob on the sofa and he didn't care if I had washed my hair recently or not. I wish I had given myself some slack.

Feeding takes 45mins for us. It has always been the same, maybe 10 mins less than the early days. He has both boobs. Refuses to be winded and will never let go unless I break his latch (which I now do after 20 mins or so on each boob). It's really frustrating as I have to factor in this time if I go anywhere - eg shopping or visiting a friend. Unless I want to stay somewhere for 3 hours I have to do a quick there and back within 1.5- 2 hrs. Damn you nct classes where we were told that breastfed babies feed in 5/10 mins more lies!

toast feeding is public is daunting especially in the early days when getting the baby latched isn't easy and you need full access to the boob. It's not so bad once you have done it a few times and realise that no one really looks at you. I have a few places that are my safe havens - john lewis, mothercare and some m & s stores have parent rooms with chairs to feed in.

Had ga made it back from the school run? yet another example of how the hell do parents with more than one child do it

Ok maybe a silly question but if you ha ran appointment, say haircut or like purple getting your nails done- how do you know your baby won't end up wanting a feed just as you want to leave the house? Or whilst you're there? Do you just wake up baby before hand to feed regardless of whether they're hungry or not? This has been bugging me for the last week.

Morning!

Popz I thought my ergo was only an original - I was very confused as it said that on box but my mate keeps insisting its a 360! Glad I know the difference now

Went to doctors for my 4 week late post birth check - couldn't feel more like shit if I tried. Streaming cold, tired, didnt have time to eat or drink this morning. Mum took b at 7 so I could sleep for hour but I woke and he was a total screaming mess with full nappy and too angry to feed. Not mums fault as he'd only just done it but I was then stressed which made him worse. So tried to feed him which he screamed through then had to change his outfit twice because he's got a sore patch on his neck from car seat straps and the first outfit rubbed it. Poor boy. So I look like shit and when doc asked me how I'm feeling I burst into tears. B was ok last night though although he was still straining and groaning with wind. Poor boy.

Doc was useless - asked me about contraception and I asked for advice only to be told I need to make appointment with family planning clinic. No mention of pnd. Useless.

Ga - hope it went well this morning!!!

Fleur - sounds like you're getting on ok!

My mummy rebuild thing is done by same instructor who did my fit mummy antenatal classes. It's a 4 week intensive thing to start you off getting back to fitness. We are doing it as a group of friends with our babies which will be fun.

Pis how's minipis? Is she feeling better, your ds and dp need a shake for that! Dafties

B is a tired horror today. He's not feeding properly so I'm anticipating a rubbish night tonight.

We use burts bees in bath - it smells lovely!

Sorry thT post was saved on phone from this morning. Need to catch up

I used to try and enforce a feed before we went out Toast. And then he'd usually sleep in the car or pram on the way to said appointment and be happy enough throughout. Babies are much better behaved out of the house I've discovered! Whenever I've taken minipopz to the hairdressers there's always been a small army of willing volunteers to cuddle and entertain him!

Sorry you've had a tough day. My postnatal app wasn't up to much either as I recall. I didn't have one til 8 weeks either. Do you feel like you've got PND? Definitely an Ergo original - the 360s look a lot different actually. I'm not a fan.

Sorry, I don't mean to keep going on about it but.. Yay slimming world! So I lost half a stone before joining, and now after 3lb this week, another 1st 9lb in 10 weeks! (Including a holiday!). I'm a bit gobsmacked. Now..another 2 and a half stone and I'm good! (Lol)