July 2016

[primarynoodle]

Hopefully this works...

So we can keep in touch and pass on words of wisdom!

Perhaps someone clever could link to the stats?

Jealous you've managed to sunbathe cookies it's wet and miserable here!

Went to the bank to set up an account for the wee guy. Can't believe what a palaver it was. 45 minute appointment just to set up a junior saver account.

We bought a tummy tub off amazon as an alternative to the baby bath. Now I see it properly I realise I've spent £20 on what is essentially a bucket! Won't be able to wash his hair in it either. Might just have it for when his tummy is bothered from the wind.

that really is just q bucket with a baby on it isn't it!! Curious - how would it help with wind? Annie has a very gripes tummy in the morning till she has a nice loud fart... What a lady! I could do with something to help her out..

It won't get rid of the wind really but just give a bit of relief when he's sore with it. The warm water can be a bit of pain relief. HV also suggested using a hot water bottle... I'm not quite so sure about that one!

We've been trying infacol and recently gone onto the colica granules to see if they will help. I really can't tell if they're working or not - not sure if he'd be worse off without them. If he was a better burper then problem solved but if he won't bring it up, it'll just have to go down. The immature part of me does find farting babies rather funny.

With you all the way sock, still can't stop giggling when he farts, especially mid-feeding. And it does bring a touch of humour to the 4.30am grunting

Wow, someone made a baby bucket, that made me chuckle!!!

The boredom question got me thinking today, so have made an effort to be most entertaining - little man has been treated to bouncing along to me singing nursery rhymes, lucky boy not scarred for life. Anyone got any different ideas for baby fun times?

Ruby - problem is they continue to look bemused at you and then passive aggressively look away or starting crying for milk! I'm not tone deaf oh no

Talking of farting babies I have a cracker of a story for you - took a nice long walk up to the garden centre today in the sunshine, they have a beautiful little roof terrace cafe so I went and had a cup of tea there. Cue lots of elderly ladies cooing over Annie. So she starts getting hungry, I start feeding, she does the LOUDEST fart/poo ever! All the old ladies are looking at me shocked and appalled - they thought it was me! Then she did it again!! I was mortified!!

I thought parents were meant to embarrass the kids!

Anyone else's OH just not coping? After insisting on taking the baby at 2, I've just had to run downstairs to a crying baby and an irritable husband. He's trying to help out but just isn't managing. Would actually be easier if I just did the whole night with the wee man.
And I know I was upset a week or so ago that he seemed to be doing bog all but I'm still not going to get any sleep either way. I'm too worried that he's going to lose his temper with the wee guy - he does worse on little sleep than I do. So I've been sent to bed to get a good sleep and I'd probably get a better sleep next to the grunting baby.

Anyone got any tips for getting the baby to drink from a bottle? There's flat out rejection here and Rose retches every time I offer it.

Hello ladies. Sorry I've been away so long. With DHs hernia operation , vasectomy and Ms reflux I've not had a minute to myself.

Yesterday I made a very difficult decision. I cried most of the day. I've given up breast feeding. I just couldn't cope with having M attached to my boob so often with three other children to look after. We usually have a 7pm until 12am cluster feed here and then awake every two hours through the night. However, last night he slept from 7pm until 1 am and has just woken again for a feed. I feel like a new woman. My boobs are killing me though. One side leaks like mad so isn't too bad the other side is so full. I've just been expressing off a little for comfort.

Next week we have decided to go away for a few days. DHs dad has a holiday house ten minutes drive from Skegness so we are going there. I can't wait for some sun.

Wednesday I joined weight watchers. Yet to find out if I've lost anything but I feel a whole lot better for healthier food choices.

We decided to change our pushchair to. Ds3 hated the buggy board and I wasn't a huge fan of the Bugaboo. We bought a super cheap second hand Phil & Teds Vibe. Not the most attractive pushchair out there but it means ds3 can have a seat & a nap if he needs to now. He is 3 so we possibly won't use it for long. I also bought a Mamas & Papas Sola for when we don't need the double. I had one last time and loved it.

I'm not going to try to catch up as I've missed so much. If I've missed anything majorly important please let me know and I'll try to post more regularly from now on.

Here's a few pics of my boy.

Flossie what bottles are you using ? We use Mam and he has had one bottle a day from 2 weeks old and takes them fine.

Those talking about colic perhaps try Comfort milk if Infacol or gripe water aren't working. We used aptamil comfort but M had green poops so we are now trying cow & gate comfort. We have had great burps on both. It was recommended to is for his reflux and helps a little with that.

flossie what bottles are you using? Sounds like you may need a different teat shape?

beaut lovely photos! Don't beat yourself up about changing his feeding - we all get to make our own choices. I was upset too when I stopped but realised that it just wasn't working out for us and that bottle feeding would make me so much happier. Now we're into much more of a routine with it all. Getting away for a few days seems ideal. I really hope you enjoy the time away and relax as much as you can. Will be great for head clearing too as it seems like you've had a right old time of it.

We're also on mam bottles flossie but it might be worth trying a few different brands. I've heard of babies who will only take specific brand bottles but tried a few before finding the right one. The retching could be too fast a flow from the teat. What bottles/teats are you using?

I feel your pain beautician but you have to do what's right for you. I was told to stop bf temporarily when dd was only 4 days old due to completely shredded nipples. It took a whole week before I was able to try again but it still didn't work out. I've been expressing since 4 days old and giving a combination of formula and ebm but my supply was awful. A couple of days ago I noticed damage to one nipple from the pump - no idea why or how suddenly. Yesterday my rubbish boobs decided that they'd just stop producing milk all together. I knew we'd never be able to bf after the start we had but I'm disappointed that I can't give any ebm at all now (even though she was only getting about 100ml of that each day).

sock that looks like a bucket my husband uses for work, I'm finding it rather funny! I do hope it helps though.

primary loving the fart story ! I'm so immature about these things! We have a similar 'meeting the neighbours' story! Not sure they would have been as horrified as the old ladies though!

beaut hope life hasn't been too stressful for you, and hope things will be easier with the bottles. Nothing is worth it if it's making you miserable. So jealous of your get away, I'm trying to persuade DH even if it's the South Coast (really not far from us) for two nights - even one! I hope your DH is recovering. How was the snip? DH here still hasn't booked his so I have him on a sex ban. I'm a bit offended it hasn't given him a kick up the arse to be honest. We have a P&T for when out for the day and has helped having DD2 somewhere to sit if tired- takes the stress out of the day too don't you think?im sad for you about your bugaboo, did you sell it on? Monty-Beau is looking more gorgeous than ever!

flossie is the milk coming out too quickly for her? What bottles have you tried? We've only used Medela so far but I've had previous success with Mam and a #1 teat?

I second gripe water! Can be used from 1 month.

sock I could have written a lot of your post myself. I've felt a bit embarrassed to say my DH isn't coping that well. This is partly why I've left him to sleep downstairs, and I've done everything from day one. I think it's a confidence thing and I'm sure your OH will get better. They can get so stressed over a small baby and when they don't know what's wrong they can get stressed. And my DH shows stress through anger unfortunately. If it brings you any comfort he was like this last time and got better as the baby got older (see, he's even like it with subsequent children!) I wish I had an answer or some advice but some virtual hand holding from me!

Still having 'right boob' issues here. I've decided I don't think it's nipple, position, or supply I think it might be I have a slower let down on that side? Is this a normal? I've just been pumping it. Can supply diminish in one side if not used? Is that a 'thing'? Anyway it's soooo annoying but trying to soldier through!
I'm starting a 'MumAndMe' program in three weeks time post summer holidays, which is an exercise and nutrition program designed around you and baby, with breastfeeding friendly nutrition and post natal safe exercise you bring baby too. I'm literally counting down the days. Trying to make healthier choices but with picnics and lack of routine over the summer I'm really struggling

My own boob flow is very fast - you should see how much squirts out in the shower!

She just hates me putting the teat in her mouth. We're using Avent. I'll try Mam if people think they're good.

thanks Cookies it's good to know I'm not alone. Wish there was more I could do but I've jus to accept that I'll probably not get an evening to myself for quite a while! I really REALLY need a hair cut too but don't think I could leave them together for the 2.5 hours my hair takes!

Tommee tippee nipples are fatter than the avent ones so shouldn't cause so much retching?

Mam is the only ones DD1 would take. It can be hard for you to give it to baby as they smell your milk so you could get someone else to try?

beaut don't feel guilty. Breastfeeding is such a commitment it's bloody hard when you've got other kids. If your boobs hurt take some paracetamol and massage the lumps in s hot shower as otherwise you may develop mastitis.

Grace seems to be spacing out feeds to every three hours which is nice! She's back to birth weight after 10 days so I'm thrilled with that.

Stuffing face this weekend. Healthy eating starts Monday!!!

Also I think men in general find it hard. For us our lives change the minute we get a pink line. For men it pretty much carries on as normal until the baby comes and it's a bit of a shock.

DH has terrible patience but is slowly getting better. I agree that women cope better on no sleep than men and I always do the nights as I can't be arsed with moody DH. Now DD is older DH is brilliant with her and is so much more Paitent with dd2. Don't feel alone think it's pretty normal!

Thanks for the recommendations on Mam bottles! Bought some and Rose just took an expressed feed no problem. Love you lot!

Beaut you mustn't feel guilty. I think you've done amazingly to get this far given how much you have on your plate!

So a quick report on the tummy tub. He was upset with his wind so we filled it up and popped him in. It worked! It calmed him right down. I would even go as far to say he loved it.

Then he shat in it!

Sock that's brilliant!!

Beaut you've done amazingly with so much on your plate!! Nothing to feel bad about. Hope you and fam are doing well :)

Hi ladies!!!!

Found you all sorry I haven't been on here, time seems to have slipped away with Luca's final days in hospital. He has been home now for about 5 weeks which has absolutely flown by (compared to the 6 weeks in NICU which were the longest of my life). I have been posting on the FB group.

He's now 5lb 12oz which seems absolutely huge to me. 11 weeks and 2 weeks corrected which is what I need to go by for his development.

What are other mums of 2/3 week olds experiencing at the moment? I'm getting impatient that he seems to eat sleep change nappy and repeat. He's only really awake when he's feeding or fussing which occasional alert times where he stares at me / will tolerate a little time on his play mat and bouncy chair.

Really looking forward to getting back into the swing of the thread X

Hi Fifi, welcome back. Luca's such a cutie. What he's doing sounds about right for a 2-3 week old. I bet your so glad to be home.

Sock that made me chuckle. Glad he liked it though...you've sold it to me!