December-the 'Merry Christmas' Babies!

[Calmriver]

Hi Guys, thought I wouldn't betray our months of being together...whats a week amoungst friends!!!

Oh WOW. I weighed myself today and I am my pre-pregnancy weight. I only put on about 1 1/4 stone this time (as opposed to nearly 3 with DD1) but I never imagined I'd have lost it all so soon.

We're doing well here. Knackered but ok. DD2 was weighed again and is putting on about an oz a day. Is that good? not sure what they should be doing weightwise.

Anyway, hope you're all ok. Its very quiet but I guess we are all busy

Northernmama, good luck! Sorry your kids are sick though, bad timing...mine, too. Including teeny little dd2 now, struggling to feed/sleep/breathe with dd1's cold

Satinshoes, think thats good weight gain - based on dd1 having put on 1lb in ten days and the HV being shocked: ie thats a lot, so would think oz per day nice and normal!

Also happy to notice weight going back to normal fast, in spite of daily chocolate fudge cake, sandwiches at 3am, etc....clearly bf'ing plus having a 3 yr old to look after is a good form of dieting

God I'm knackered - finding it really upsetting and stressful looking after poorly 4 wk old, don't dare put her down much as she throws up/makes gasping noises/coughs. Have made myself hand her to DH for a bit as was becoming overly knackered and tearful - blah, just when I was starting to feel on top of things, that'll teach me, huh.

And just realized I now have to go and wrap pressies and prepare surprises for tomorrow - its dd1's third birthday, and family are descending: help!

Hey Al,

DS has spent from 11 am today sleeping only waking to be fed. Could'nt remember DD being like that, but it was 3 years ago, was starting to get worried. However, no need, just as we sat down to watch a film at 8pm, the little monkey awoke filled his nappy and screamed for food (only 2.45hrs after last 4oz)! And he finished the lot! A growth spurt so soon??

Now asleep again in daddies arms. I just know I am in for a long night.

My boobs are now empty again, I dont hold any hope of milk coming in - still managed to give him 2 expressed ounces, which is better than nothing!

HI Guys, I was at my pre-preg weight 3 days after the birth and now am under. Bfing is doing it and yes, a 2 year old too! However, I don't want to drop any more really..I looked awfull after bfing DD1. I needed serious fattening up.

Baileys, they have growth spurts at about 3 weeks and 6 weeks so I have been told by HV.

My DD has been similar waking only to feed pretty much with the odd hour of looking around and pulling cute faces.

All the old tricks are coming back to us with DS, such as holding him away from us to feed so that he stays awake and drinks well, and that he's more upright so doesnt chuck it all back at us. He's kept more down today than before due to this so could be why he is contented to sleep!

I keep wondering where my tummy has gone as I look thinner than I remember being pre-pregnancy, being a well rounded lady anyway, and having been on and off PG for the last 3 years! DH is making me feel very good about it too as he keeps asking when we can get things on again in the bedroom dept .

Part of me is flattered,
Part of me hopes he is only joking - (I think he is as he knows I have only just been able to sit down without strategic cushion placement),
Part of me is terrified,
And part of me is looking forward to the day !!

Been having fun trying to get sleep with Chris. He feeds well during the day and can go 4-5 hours without a feed but come 9pm a sweitch gets flicked and he's constantly on the boob. Good news is I now have "nipples of steel" as a result (a bit like batfink!!) so am no longer in agony. now if I could just get some sleep!

The weight loss is a great bonus of bfing isn't it? In a week and a half I've lost a stone and ten pounds!! Great as I'm getting married in May 2008 so "operation-stick-insect" is well under way already!

Hope all are well

xxxx

Erin was awake feeding from 11pm until 2am which was kanckering but then she slept from2 until 7.30 am. We had such a good sleep I cant believe it.

Hope you're all ok.

Hi everyone- found you all! been catching up on the other thread-things have gione a biut quiet though.
mum and dad left for spain this morning so finally have some time to sort myself out before xmas...need to get some serious wrapping done this pm. Have a great xmas break all and I shall be back on here next week.

Hi All,

DH has taken DD to brave the shops for the last time before Christmas so DS and I have enjoyed a nice bath and massage this morning - i did the giving he did the receivingand he loved it so it was a lovely experience for both of us!

Starting to feel more Christmassy now - the fog and white tinge to the workd outside the window helps!

Eli, my night nanny is called Nicky Calland if you ring the Surrey branch of night nannies they will send you her details. She is a maternity nurse/nanny but now teaches english in the day and does odd nights of night nannying. I can't recommend it enough. I think it is keeping me sane knowing that once a week I will actually get to sleep!!

DD2 is brill though it is just dealing with the other two DCs that makes life hard cos no sleep in the day. Also DS was playing up last week and this week it's DD1's turn (3 hours of tantrums yesterday!!!). Let's hope next week is back to normal

We still have pretty "lively" evenings and couple of feeds between 12am and 5am. So not fantastic but I'm getting by.

Hormonally I'm not feeling too bad. Thanks for the advice AQ. How are you btw? I'm just so tired. It doesn't help being housebound, not being able to drive & too cold to go out in the garden for long. Still not long hopefully until the new babies are sleeping through the night and the weather improves. Ha ha, I'm so funny aren't I?!?

Come back Jabber!!

Also DH currently working 6am to 12 midnight and very grumpy when he is home. Sympathy please!!!

Hi all, I never seem to get on mumsnet these days. Ds is now 7days old. Is hard to believe it was last Friday that it as all happening.
Today has been a bit of a rough day as it tun out ds has a slight chest infection. I have got to give him antib's to try and clear it. HAve to admit I feel rather emotional about it as he is still so so little but he does sound chesty. Luckily the midwife was checking us this morning and was able to get the gp to come out to us rather than us having to go to him.

Apart from this things have been going pretty well. I feel as though I am healing much faster than I did with my dd. Still doing the lavender and tea tree oil baths which if nothing else I love the smell.

hope you are all well. Cannot beleive it CHrismtas soon.
Its so so foggy here, can haly see down the road.

Hi All,

MW visited today to weigh DS for the first time since he was born. She started off saying I must'nt be alarmed i he had'nt made his borth weight - to which I said i would be supprised as he was such a guzzler. Popped him on the scales and....WOW He has gained 6.5oz in 10 days, and is now 8lb.8oz. As he is feeding pretty much every 2-4 hours up to 4oz a time we are going to switch to hungry baby formula and see how we go.

Just a quickie to let you know that Kirsten Ada was born Dec. 21st at 9:34 pm. Yep, when she decided to arrive, she did it with gusto in 1 hour and 45 minutes!!!

We've just arrived home from hosp. and I'm knackered and still have DS to put down for nap!!

Castles, no wonder you're knackered, god 3 hours of tantrums is more than I could stand without going insane although DS1 certainly has his moments lately. Are you managing with all of them all day until midnight then??? Arrggggh!
I did bathtime tonight on my own as dp off to his xmas do until 1.30 in the morning, and it was horrendous! DS1 completely tired out and emotional, wanting cuddles and attention whilst ds2 screaming for milk every hour (feeding for half an hour of that).
Otherwise, things ok here, I've been trying really really hard to stay positive (and ds2 has turned out NOT to have colic at least not now). One good night of sleep (ds2 slept 5 hours at once, had only done 1-2 until then) made all the difference to my mood. So I'm trying to remember that tiredness is the likely problem not depression. Also noticing how v.grumpy, snappy, anxious and low I feel when not eating often enough. I too have lost all pg weight already (tho didn't put much on really, this mars bar diet of mine is really working) and boobs are same as when pg, I am ONLY 40HH now - ridiculous that I am pleased about that Was 42K with DS1 when milk came in arrrrgggh.
Have just read the entire NCT guide to breastfeeding which has made me feel much better about the incessant feeds running together these last few days. Had forgotten some of the basic bfeeding ideas really about demand and supply, feel much more relaxed about it all now as it seems perfectly normal and he's just having his 3 week spurt early! Wish I could feed without these dratted nipple shields though, they're such a pain!
Sympathies and hugs to those with poorly lo's

And wishing sleep to EVERYONE! Can't believe Xmas 2 days away, mountain of presents to wrap and have bought nothing for dp yet...

Sorry to be AWOL - very fast post: Mischa is in the HDU with bronchiolitis, very unwell but (when I left this morning) holding steady and sleeping. Yesterday was dd1's birthday - some birthday - and I made it home for two hours to eat cake with her, then went back to the hospital to find M on c-pap oxygen, tubes all over. I've never been so scared. I'm still in shock - she had a slight snuffle two days ago, now she can't breathe without help: thank goodnedss for gut instincts, she's been in the right place at the right time all the way through. But... I could use a good cry.

On the +ve side, she is still able to take breast milk through an NG tube, and I'm pumping for Britain. dd1 has always been so embarrassingly healthy I'm a total novice at this - but the other parents in the HDU make me humble. Their kids are sicker than mine.

Congrats Northernmama and anyone else whose baby has arrived - not had time to scroll down further! - and hope all of you are ok, and have a good Xmas. Will post again when I can. xxxx

Congrats all! So sorry this has happened Eli, it must be terrifying. Hope she gets better soon.

Eli - sounds very frightening. Hope she is better soon.

we had a terrible outing yesterday as DD1 refused to walk or go on her new buggyboard and expected Daddy to carry her everywhere. The tantrums were horrific. The first time she's had a strop really since DD2 arrived.

Oh well. DD2 seems to be feeding lots at the moment but I guess that is normal. She is 2 weeks today! Going very quickly.

Have a good day all.

Well, have left the world of the "feels like I'll be pregnant forever", and joined the "oh dear god, I'm soooo tired" club of the mothers of newborns.

Kirsten is a quiet little baby so far, very sleepy, but showed signs last night that she will definitely let me know what she needs!! Only slept about 3 hours in total and not all in a row either... KNACKERED this morning!

My little angel doesn't latch very well, she doesn't stick out her tongue far enough to really suck that nipple in properly...
once I get her latched it's usually OK, but it took 15 minutes last night just to get her latched!

Have a Merry Christmas everyone!!! Will be back on the thread after the holidays!!!

Hello everyone. Sorry to pop in and moan about me without even reading everyone's else's posts, but am a bit desperate.

I love my little one so much, but it's really difficult. She won't sleep unless either DP or I is holding her. Which means one of us has to be awake 24 hours a day. If we put her in her crib or carry cot she screams until she's picked up. So we've had three nights of me staying up until 5 or 6 a.m. with her sleeping on me and me too scared to fall asleep in case I drop or squash her; and then giving her to DP and getting about three hours' sleep. What am I supposed to do? Leave her to scream? Fall asleep holding her? Or not sleep? Does this just take time to get better? Or should I have a bath / bed routine already sorted out? We have no routine apart from trying to feed every three hours - she seems capable of sleeping through five or six during the day. In the night, only when she's held. Help!

Then there's the nipple pain, and now arse pain (too many iron tablets!).

Elibean, I know you're probably not going to be on for a while, but just wanted to let you know I was thinking of you and Mischa and hope everything is better really soon for all of your family hugs
Loulou, hard to know what's wrong here - I mean, most babies prefer to be held by their parents but not to the point of screaming non-stop if they aren't, well at least not for 24 hours. Might it be she's uncomfortable when laid flat i.e. reflux? Does she settle in her car seat or something else that's on an angle? A couple of others on here have experienced this I think, you can get wedge-shaped pillows etc. Also, feeding more often might be a good idea as 5-6 hours for a newborn quite a long time really, she could just be getting really hungry? Is a health visitor or midwife still visiting? Even if not, get someone to come in at a time when she's normally screaming so they can help, doesn't matter if it's Christmas Eve if you need help There's also the Crysis helpline for parents (08451 228 669 9am to 10pm 7 days). I feel for you, it's very very hard when a baby screams non-stop for hours, and equally hard to live on no sleep again

LouLou, no chance of routine yet hun. Go with whatever you can. Take it turns to hold while the other one sleeps. ds1 is still like this at 3 weeks but oinly at night

Eli, you poor thing. I hope Mischa is ok and I am thinking of you xxxxx

I have no internet so round my mums to post this.

Merry Xmas evreyone xxxxxx

Will post as soon as my computer is sorted.

Oh and Ben was weighed yesterday and was 7lb, so thats 9oz in 8 days

Eli - thinking of you and Mischa, hope she comes home to you soon.

Loulou, go with the idea that DD might not like being flat. Dylan likes to be at an angle, so he has a towel under his moses basket matress and spends all day in a cradle chair at a very gentle angle.

Just when I though my breasts had dried up I mnaged to express another oz of milk tonigh so that's more of the good stuff for him! Although as he is such a guzzler we have also swtched the formula to hungry baby milk. He had his first bottle of this at 4.30pm today and is now sleeping at his daddies feet. So it obviously did the trick, but I now need him to wake to make sure he gets enough - talk about balancing act! Regular formula and he's looking for more after 2 hours, hungrier formula and he's too satisfied!!