Jan '07 part 3: Final score - 69 days, 28 boys, 21 girls weighing over 26 stone in total (thats over THREE TIMES Kate Moss's body weight!)

[2Happy]

And huge respect to EaH, without whose efforts we never would have had a list

(And yes, I am one of those sad people who finds things like temperature sensors in cars really interesting. Nerd.)

EaH can't help but at your dh!! hope he respects how much you do now! plus, just wanted to say hairy maclary rocks! had never heard of it pre-ds1, but think all the books are just fantastic

just had call from gp - asked for advice call this am as ds2 still a touch jaundiced, but only in certain lights. says he wants to see him today and will probably request urgent ultrasound . i just thought it was prolonged breast milk jaundice and he'd pat me on the head and send me packing. he wants to see me at 12.10 so now have all morning to get myself into a state, lol!

Still trying to catch up! 2happy - my ds1 was still jaundiced after a few weeks and they sent him to the hospital for a blood test It was one of the worst experiences I've ever had. My poor baby was so small still and they put a needle into his hand and had to squeeze the blood through it It took about 20 mins to fill 4 or so vials. They couldn't use a normal needle but it was hollow with nothing on the end so the blood dripped through, he screamed through it Turned out to be nothing and was just breastmilk jaundice so I'd be very reluctant to have it done again unless the jaundice was severe.

Ethan isn't sleeping well, he was awake most of the day yesterday, slept about 1 hour and didn't sleep until 11.30pm. Took him up half an hour later after he was totally asleep and then he woke up to feed after about 15 mins. He did sleep until 5am then but it's usually every couple of hours and the previous few nights has been up and awake at 4am . He was up from then but dh got up with him and got me up at 7.30 so he could get ready for work. I really hope he starts to sleep better at night soon!

Will try and catch up on everyone's news today, every time I try I end up having to stop to do something hehe. At least it's sunny today and dh sorted the garden out this weekend so Morgan has been playing out there for a bbit already, pre-school this afternoon too.

Morning all. Just like to add another one to the list of complaints about dh/p working hours. I don't mind at all that he usually has to work Saturdays as he's off Sundays and then will usually have another day off sometime during the week. BUT it really annoys me that he has to work late shifts about once or twice a week because that means that he doesn't have to leave the house til about 11am, which means he doesn't get out of bed til about 10.30 (just enough time to get himself ready and go!) Obviously i'm up at about 6.30 with the LO and then have to look after him all on my own day and DP won't get back til after I've put him to bed. So this means that not only does he not see his son all day, he doesn't help me with anything all day.

Ok, rant over... just feeing pissed off as it's now 9:45 and DP still asleep. I would LOVE to sleep in til 9:45!

Moving on.... a question or those of you doing the 'dream feed'... We're (well.. I'm ) now putting freddie to bed at 8pm so I've started doing a dream feed every night around 11ish. He only sort of half wakes up for this feed (though I have read that some people recommend waking them up fully at this point, turing the lights on and doing a nappy change) and drinks the bottle down fine, but then when i put him back down he seems really unsettled for about half an hour, before he goes back into a proper deep sleep. He does lots of grunting and groaning and snorting and tossing around like he's uncomfortable. He has his eyes closed the whole time though, so he obviously is still sort of asleep, but doesn't seem very happy for a while after feeding. I guess this might be because I don't really do any winding after a dream feed, although I did a bit last night, to try and settle him a bit more and it didn't help. Does anyone else have this problem?? Or have any tips to make the dreamfeed go a bit more smoothly?

shimmer - i sometimes do a dream feed at about half ten, Zac doesn't really wake up for it, but he does burp brilliantly (yes, even in his sleep!) this might sound like a really stupid question but how are you winding him? my mum says not to pat them as it makes them sick, just stroke up their back to encourage the wind out. works a treat for me, i have to say...

Agree with the winding tip as it seems to work for me. I also rub gently in circular motions too.

Has everybody remembered to claim their child benefit ? Only just got round to sorting mine out and its only backdated for 12 weeks.

Tentatively suggested to DH that perhaps we should use the benefit to sponsor a child in Africa or somewhere, you'd have thought I was suggesting selling our children the response I got. So thats that its going in the bank.

Think I'm turning into a dizzy mum, phone call from school this morning enquiring why I hadnt put my name down for parents evening tonight. Totally passed me by thats why !!

Hi folks. Feeling very . My first night out on Saturday for dh brithday was a tad ruined by me being ill. I have a horrid throat infection with nasty white pus seeping out of my tonsils, and a horrid fever. Dh has taken the day off work to care for lo, but she has slept all morning so now am paranoid she's caught it.

Back from docs, ds2 being urgerntly referred to paeds

RGee, that sounds terrible, poor you. Hope you feel better soon and fingers crossed that dd is sleeping because she "knows" you need the rest, not because she's coming down with it.

Or urgently, even.

2Happy sorry to hear your news. Hopefully its very mild and a few hours under a photoblanket will do the trick. They will have to take some blood which is never nice to watch but the results are instant. Its very common you know.

2happy hope results are quick an it is something minor

rgee - poor you hope you feel better soon

Sorry to hear your news 2happy Fingers crossed they goet it sorted out asap.

Sorry to hear about your illness rgee, such a shame when you get a rare night out that you don't feel well.

I'm torn between waking ds up at 10.30ish for his feed or trying a dreamfeed. I've tried both, but neither consistently and think I may be confusing ds as he's gone from sleeping from 11.30 to 6.30 to waking at 2.30, 5 and 6.30 last night . My only problem with a dreamfeed is that he always, always fills his nappy near the end of this feed and changing it wakes him up so, presumably, defeating the object of the dreamfeed? How do you do a dream-nappy?!

Have been very lazy this afternoon and it was great! The plan was to drop dd at pre-school, take ds to clinic for weights and measurements for 8 wk checkup and then go home for an hour to do some housework etc before picking dd up from pre-school. DS fell fast asleep in his pram after the clinic (91st centile on all measurements!) and it was such a nice day instead of going home I bought a trashy mag and sat outside having a coffee and muffin until it was time to pick dd up . Suppose the housework will need to be done sometime though . . . . .

hattie, after 4 kids i am an expert at dream nappies

Hello all, have been mainly lurking these last few weeks as not coping well with LO but on some medication now and moved in with the inlaws so hopefully things will pick up.

Just wanted to say 2happy would ring but it is mid bedtime routine for you with 2 little monkeys but hope all is OK and will try and catch up with you tomorrow.

Loosh

Loosh hope you are feeling better - glad you got some help and are on some meds and that IL'S are helping

2happy - hope it's nothing and that the tests aren't too bad (hugs) I'd take someone with you if you can as the blood test isn't pleasant

Hattie and LTH - I'm on my 3rd baby and dreamfeed nappies aren't possible with my babies lol. Ethan is the amazing wide awake baby that never sleeps and wakes the minute he is put down so changing him even in the dark has him cooing and grinning at me hehe.

Loosh - hope you're feeling better now

My dh has fallen asleep with Ethan on his chest next to me Sitting there on the sofa, we were watching 24 but I've now turned it off as he couldn't keep his eyes open, bless. He's had a long day though, got up with the kids at 6am so I could stay in bed and got home from work at 6.30pm. They both look so sweet right now

Hope it gets sorted out soon 2happy. xxx and that you feel better soon Rgee.

Sorry you have had a rough time too Looshkin. Hope it picks up soon and you feel ontop of it all.xxx

Had a busy weekend this weekend friends from uni came over on sat with their ds same age as ds1 and we had a great day. It did make me really glad DS1 loves his food though as theirs barely ate a thing and I would find that so worrying. He looked healthy though and they didnt seem to worried. Guess you just get used to it. They also seemed paranoid if their ds made a noise and if he did got a dummy stuck in his mouth. We just let ds1 make all the noise he wants, think you stop hearing it properly after a while but they probablly thought ds was a monster!

Roast on sunday at my mums. mmmmmmmm!

Then DH had the day off today and we went to see my nan. Had another great day , the highlight of which was that ruth did some massive smiles (yay!) followed by my nan and her elderly neighbour singing head shoulders knees and toes but saying

'hands, shoulders, knees and feet'

then at the next bit singing

'and cheeks and nose and mouth and chin'

Couldnt stop laughing and ds1 just looked confused! My nan asked if he knew that one! Didnt really know what ot say!

2happy - thinking of you and your DS

Night feeds are now back on track after his growth spurt when he fed almost hourly. Now he's settling at 7pm and wakes up at 12am and 3am and then wants to get up at 6 but I'm managing to keep him asleep in the morning by putting him on my tummy for an hour.

Daytimes are more stressful though as I find it hard to settle him for a nap if I miss the window of opportunity then he gets seriously grouchy. How much sleeping should they do during the day?

Went to hospital for 6 week postnatal check up and they said everythings fine - I had a 3rd degree tear but its healed well .

heya all...

Looshkin, it's great to hear from you again, i kept wondering where you were and meant to put something on here but always forgot when it came to actually sitting down with the computer. sorry, that's not an excuse really is it? i hope you're ok, a newborn is a lot to cope with and i often feel like it's getting on top of me. but don't forget mumsnet is always here for you (has been my lifeline sometimes!) and if you ever need someone to talk to my email is metalduck @ hotmail.co.uk (no spaces)

2Happy - hope everything is ok. try to be brave when they take the blood, they won't remember it and it does them good in the long run!

RGee - sending get well soon vibes your way!!

well i wrote my letter to the bank today asking for my penalty charges back! it comes to a total of £205.50, so we shall see if i get it back! apparently my bank has been known to send the cheque for the amount and the balance and then close the account, which is really cutting their nose off to spite their face! well, we shall see.

hope you all have good nights - Zac is fast asleep next to me, please please please let this be the night he starts to sleep through!

Thanks for your messages, we're off to hospital this afternoon, dh hoping to be able to come, will let you all know.

(Loosh, I don't have your IL's number and Anne has lost it, doh! but will be here all morning, if you feel like talking and if you forgive me for the stalker-like number of emails I've been sending you! )

2Happy - about your LO, hope the blood test isn't too bad. Sometimes they will take them away to do it if you don't want to watch (they did this with J for him bloods and lumbar puncture as I couldn't bear to watch it). Hope it goes OK. Big hugs xxx

Loosh - nice to have you back. Sorry to hear you have been finding it tough although you can join my anti depressant gang It does get easier, I'm feeling better and have been on my ADs for 2 weeks (sorry, I am assuming you are on the same thing - if I'm wrong please correct me)

Haven't got time for loads of personals as you all chat FAAAAARRRR too much. Got the ILs coming to watch J for me for a few hours whilst I have a girly shop with my BF and some lunch. Really looking forward to it.

Question - had sex last night (was VVVV nice!!) but have noticed some blood in my pants this morning. Is this normal? Has anyone else bled after sex or could it have kick started a period - I am yet to have one.

Talking of tough times, Wilkie, have you heard from KR yet?

I haven't quite done the deed yet, Wilkie, well, not even close, but I do remember that happening with ds1, although it was 9 years ago. I can't remember if I worried about it or not..

Good luck today 2happy, I really hope it goes well and LO is fine

Well, I've had an upsetting couple of days. Just about better from the mastitis but the worm medicine that the doctor said I should have as the WHOLE family should be treated, not just ds1, made LO ill. I went to him as pharmacy said that if breastfeeding the doc has to prescribe something and he gave us a liquid rather than the tablets but it turns out it's the same stuff. Can in very rare cases cause a bit of mild diahrrrr (however it's spelt) in infants, he said. Well, he cried all night sunday with a tummy ache and had a horrible browny green nappy and just looked so sad I felt awful. Then I looked it up online and searched mnet 'worm' archives and you're not advised to take it during breastfeeding as active ingredient DOES get in milk. F*ing idiot doctor . I would never have taken it if I thought that but he'd said it was fine, and you know, the THOUGHT of the other things made me cringe but friends have since said (amazing how many people have had it but not told friends!) that they just ate garlic/used hygiene methods when feeding as THEIR doc said best to avoid it
I phoned him yesterday and the idiot said 'oh, it's very rare for them to get abdominal pain and diahrrea, tiny amounts pass through' Could be anything' Bit of a sodding coincidence though, that's the most he's cried in his short life. I feel like I've poisoned him. Why is it not recommended if it's so 'rare'. Then he said..'the medical profession does not worry about a little bit of a brown nappy and pain in an infant'!!

His nappies are normal again today ,although he's still had pain in the night, but I'm changing doctors today. He's been incompetant loads of times. Like telling me I didn't need antibiotics in pregnancy for uti and the midwife had a fit saying it can cause premature labour that's why they test for it!!

Sorry for rant, hope everyone is ok

Carrotcake - most non-serious) medicines are often labelled as being unsuitable for babies / children because the drug companies havent been able to thoroughly test them during clinical trials, after all who would put forward their healthy baby for testing if they didnt need to ? Clinical trials are necessary and important part of getting a licence in this country but in extreme cases they can go wrong (Remember those poor young men last year ?) What I'm trying to say is that the worm medication will have been tested on healthy adults and found to be effective and harmless and therefore following through it should be OK for babies in smaller doses even though they have not been specifically trialled as patients.

Your LO may well have had a taste of the medication via your milk and it will have worked in the same way but there should not be any long term effects for them. Its just a shame your GP did not recognise this and I feel for you.

Used to work in this field in a previous life !