August 2016. Anyone got the hang of their babies yet?!!

[plimsolls]

Thought I'd start a new thread. Unimaginative title but E has spent the whole day grizzling/feeding/sleeping on me so I'm running on limited capacity!

[peardrop2]

Belgar Dd is 12 weeks now She was 4 weeks early so technically she is 8 weeks.

I know I'm incredibly in patient Got to keep telling myself to get a grip, stop eating biscuits and shake off the tiredness!!

I've organised Dd Christening which is in 5 weeks time. A nursing dress from Seraphine arrived in the post today. I decided that discreet nursing was the way forward because I also have a christening to go to next weekend. With Dd feeding so often I don't really want to be hiding away in the car or toilet to have to awkwardly take my dress off! I should get about 3/4 uses out of it which isn't bad for £39. Plus obviously if I have no3 I'll be able to use it then. That is such a big IF right now

[peardrop2]

Btw I forgot to say thank you for all sharing your sleeping times. I think it's fair to say that not many if any are sleeping through the night. My DS didn't sleep through the night until 10 months old. I have no idea why I thought Dd would be different Silly me

[Biscuitswithtea]

Prolonged broken sleep is rubbish. DS didn't regularly sleep through until after he turned 2. Quite how we ever agreed to have another baby, let alone make one, is a bit of a miracle!

Two things I find that help me are drinking loads and loads of water, and getting a little bit of fresh air each day. That, and trying not to snack on junk easier said than done

[peardrop2]

Biscuits you're so right. Fresh air and lots of water really helps! I'm going for a small walk with my sister and the kids tomorrow which I am v excited about. I am so thirsty at the moment so I've been drinking loads of water since I've been home. I did however just sit down to eat a granola bar

DH took DS out this afternoon to sort my car out. Of coarse this meant that Dd refused to be put down. Instead of getting frustrated I've been slinging it all afternoon and have achieved some chores as well as making butternut squash soup! Check me out

[Whattodowithaminute]

Lost you all again there....

Am back at work at beginning of December for one day a week so have been trying to stretch DS between daytime feeds a bit. If he hasn't napped or only capnapped then he will manage 2 hours then get grouchy, today managed an amazing 3 hour nap so went 4 hours between feeds. Overnight he is generally doing 8-12/1 then sometimes until 4 then up hourly. Last night though managed 8-3 and then til 7 which was incredible (would have been even better if ds2 hadn't been up at 1and DH at 4....)

We are using a kari me sling and an ergo 360, both great, more likely to sleep in the kari me.

[FourForYouGlenCoco]

Hi all! Been off the radar this week - it's half term so me and kids went up to visit my family sat - tues. Was so lovely to see everyone, my poor little mammy is like a tiny frail ghost - 5 out of 6 chemos down and there's practically nothing left of her. It's pretty heartbreaking. But seeing the kids definitely perked her up, and at least she'll be done by Xmas, so hey ho. We also got together with friends+kids for the first time since we moved, was lush to have a proper catch up. DD (4yo) is totally out of sync and has been super grouchy since we got back so we've been having some clashes, but DS is as chilled as ever at least!

pear good that 12w seems to be a bit of a milestone for you! They really are becoming their own little people now and it definitely helps with working out what they want. I can actually tell what DS's different cries mean, never could with DD. Re sleep, I've got a good one this time, but he is the polar opposite of my firstborn. Sleeping through at 10 months would have been heaven! She was still up every hour some nights at 6 months old. It nearly drove me over the edge and suddenly I completely understood why they use sleep deprivation as torture! She is still a relatively poor sleeper now at 4. I know people love to get smug about children's sleep, but I honestly think it's luck of the draw - you just get what you get and that's it, it's nothing you do/don't do. I'm doing nothing differently than I did first time yet have completely different sleepers!
And hurray on chores and butternut squash soup (yum! I want to come to your house ). DS is the same, doesn't like to be put down - I get everything done in the house with him either over a shoulder or in the sling.

Re slings, how did the library go Sophia? We've moved on from the wrap - DS is so heavy that it was destroying my back. I finally got my connecta back from my friend last weekend and it's so much comfier and more supportive. I love it.

biscuits both my parents are with new people - they both just get called by their names; it just worked out that way. Both of them are long-term fixtures - I like my dad's partner a lot, but we don't see her that often so don't have such a close relationship, but I think of my mum's partner as my stepdad, even though I was well into my teens when they got together. DD absolutely adores him and they are definitely as close as her bio g'parents. It is tricky to know what to call everyone, but whatever you decide will be normal for your kids, so they won't think it's odd or question it.

what wow, back at work already (well, nearly) the time has just flown hasn't it! Doesn't seem ten minutes since they were all being born. Hope all goes ok and good luck stretching out the feeds.

DH has a sickness bug and has been puking all night; it's kept me awake since 4am. Today is going to be hard! Both kids asleep still though so I can get up and have a coffee in peace while it's still hot silver linings hey!

[plimsolls]

This thread disappeared for me, too. I thought it must have gone quiet!

Just a quick post mainly to place mark and get thread back in my active list.

Sleep.... E can go up to about 5 hours on a good night. Then wakes very frequently after that. She's really bothered by wind in the early hours onwards which keeps us all up!

I'm sure fresh air in daytime helps her sleep better at night and it makes me feel better too!

E is 10 weeks this weekend and I'm starting to see changes in her, becoming more smiley and alert. I also think (hope!) that I'm seeing her take longer daytime sleeps and daytime feeds. I'm hoping this heralds the start of a natural pattern!

[peardrop2]

What it feels so soon for you to be back at work Has it been your choice or pressure from the work place? Time is just flying isn't it! I guess your be back just in time for the Christmas parties

Four Omg to you having to wake every hour with your Dd! That definitely would have pushed me over the edge. How on earth did you do that?! I forgot to say that we had to revert to some sort of crying it out solution with my son to get him to sleep from 10 months so it wasn't by his doing by any means

Last night Dd woke up at 9pm and fed a lot until she went back to sleep at 11. I then got an amazing 4 hours sleep from her!! She then woke at 3 and went back to sleep at 4. After being awake for an hour I couldn't get back to sleep which was unfortunate but they both napped this afternoon so I was able to catch up on sleep today thankfully. It did mean that DH arrived home to a bomb site tonight though

I'm cooking a lamb roast for my mum tomorrow. She's arriving at 12:30 and then asked me if I would be offended if she left by 3:30 I can't say I am because she probably wouldn't come. It will be really nice to see her but I'm not looking forward to all the work. I'm not going to worry about the mess in the house. She will have to see it as it is! I just wish she offered to help me more without me always having to ask Even if she just held the baby for an hour whilst I did some gardening or washing...oh well. I am grateful she is coming

[peardrop2]

Oh and Four I hope the sickness bug hasn't spread and your DH feels better now? Nothing worse then a sick DH

[Biscuitswithtea]

There are so many germs this now. Sympathies to all the poorly folk. I hope it passes quickly.

Pear at least your mum is coming! Mine has seen DS for about an hr in the past 7-8 months. She lives an hr away.

So fireworks can do one. Our neighbours spent 20 mins setting them off tonight. DD did her startle reflex for each bang. I was mighty peeved as bedtime took forever and she has been so unsettled the past few days.

[peardrop2]

Biscuits couldn't agree more about the fireworks I got DS into bed by 8 and then he heard fireworks and said he was scared. He didn't fall asleep until 11 Dd is still refusing to sleep. She's eaten too much now and is incredibly windy. Arggggh!

[peardrop2]

Had a shockingly bad night as Dd wouldn't fall asleep until 1:30 and then woke at 3 but thankfully both of them slept in until 8. Peewee! At least I have the energy to cook lunch now!!

[Biscuitswithtea]

Good luck with the lunch prep Pear. DS slept til 6.15am new time. DD until 8am new time. We have been for an astonishingly slow walk to Tesco and back (c1.5hrs in total...it would take me on my own less than half an hr)...having some chill out on the sofa before meeting friends for lunch and a play.

I tried DD in the pushchair part of the pram this morning. It was fine. Granted, Uppababy do an insert for littlies to make it cosier and provide head support but it was dandy. And means she is really snug in the fleecy liner too :)

[peardrop2]

DH reminded me that 8 is actually 9 to me. No wonder I felt OK in the morning! Oh my goodness preparing lunch was so stressful. Ds just wanted me to play with him the whole morning and I was still drying my hair when my mother arrived. I try so hard but it's just too hard to cook a roast on my own Feels ridiculous because it should technically be so easy! Not easy when you have a baby who can't be put down though. Ended up having to serve my mum and DS and I just sat at the table feeding without food Eventually I was able to eat but it was all cold and I know how my mother hates cold food. Still, I made the effort and what's important is that I spent time with her today even if it wasn't perfect I won't be in a hurry to cook a roast without DH again!

[Lou2711]

Anyone with older DC got any tips for helping baby get used to the clocks going back? I thought it would be useful to try to stay in bed this morning just to help DD realise we will be staying in bed for longer and she did go back to sleep but that's totally messed up her naps today, she's really struggled going to sleep/staying asleep

[peardrop2]

Lou I'm surprised a baby can notice the difference over an hour? Do you have a very set routine then? Sorry I can't help, our day is never the same. Although it holds a rough pattern.

Dd normally properly wakes for her 6:30-7 feed and then naps when I'm feeding DS breakfast and then wakes for a feed around 10 and then has a short nap at 11, eats at 1 and then naps around 1:30 - 4:30. Eats at 5pm and 7pm and then goes to bed whenever I've got enough rocking time so usually around 8pm. The rest of the night is all dependant on how hungry and windy she is to whether how many times she wakes but on average it's 2-3 times. Recently she's been up in the evening and going to bed later but tonight I managed to rock her to sleep by 8:30pm. I'm expecting her to wake at 11pm for a feed.

[Lou2711]

Yes pear she's in quite a good routine, I never forced her into it or even attempted one, she put herself into it but it's quite handy cos it makes her predictable. But now she's up an hour earlier than hoped and I'm not sure how to get her to wake at 7-7:30 now

[Whattodowithaminute]

lou she will probably get it but if aim for moving by 5-10 mins a day rather than the full hour. Our bigger boys were up before 5 today...

[Biscuitswithtea]

Yep, I would do a gradual shift too. To be honest DD (who is 16w tomorrow - how on earth did that happen?) hasn't batted an eyelid to the clock change. Possibly because she doesn't have a set routine - she gets taken around with DS too much to allow much routine after c9am!

I think fear we're tipping into asleep regression/growth spurt. DD has been up every couple of hrs over night from c1am for the last few nights.
She's also increasingly sicky by day which is a little disheartening. We have 4m jabs next week so will see how her weight is then before worrying too much about it.

My hair has started falling out :( Bloody hormone slumps!

[peardrop2]

Aww Biscuits poor hair I'm not sure if I gained any. My hair looks shocking though. Never enough time to blow dry it properly. I'm hoping to get a really good cut next Monday!

Anyone else feel like hibernating with a bowl of nuts? All I can think about is junk food this week and I'm sick of my horrible clothes. It's weigh day tomorrow morning. Decided I need something to spur me on with this annoying dairy free and low acid diet!

[Biscuitswithtea]

Hibernating would be great. I got totally fed up wearing jersey tops and bought 4 fine knit loose fitting tops from H&M to see me through the breastfeeding months.
Am more or less back at pre pregnancy weight but def not pre pregnancy shape. My body feels a bit alien at best, knackered at worst!

[peardrop2]

Biscuits that's a good description! I wouldn't normally be worried about my weight this early on but I'm trying to find a silver lining to not being able to eat cakes and biscuits!

Arghhhh DD is just impossible to settle. I've tried putting her down 3 times tonight and each time she wakes from being asleep I'm worried I'm going to get wrist tendinitis again like I had with my son. Does anyone have any self settling tips that is working for them? She won't even nap in the day at the moment without being in the sling

[peardrop2]

Has anyone else's baby suffered the day after their second jabs? Dawned on us tonight that this may explain the clingyness Poor Dd

[Biscuitswithtea]

Your poor DD Pear...and you. We had a day or so of extra puke and poo and basically living in the sling. Extra grouch does sound like a jab hangover

Re settling for naps, the only one that she self settles for is the very first one. I think she sees it as a continuation of night time. Thereafter she sleeps in the sling or the pram or the car seat and will need some sort of movement to help her fall asleep with all three of those setups. It is hard to create any familiar structure for her during the bulk of the day due to DS. I'm mostly not worried about it because she gets enough sleep at the moment one way or another

[peardrop2]

Not so worried about naps. It's more settling her at night that I've got a problem with.