May 2007 - The babies are arriving!!

[aprilmeadow]

Thought i would start the offical May 2007 thread as it is May and we have now had our first offical May baby - even though we have 6 naughty babies who queue jumped and arrived in April .

Probably be a while before there are many messages but a least we have a thread now

Afternoon all

Wow its got busy on here, i havent read all the posts yet because Alana is about to wake for her tea so thought i would post now and catch up later.

I have noticed a few new additions so congratulations to you all, is that all of the May ladies popped now?

We saw the Health Visitor today for Alana's first check up. Somehow according to the HV Alana now weighs only 6lb 13oz. The thing is she used proper scales and A was totally in the nude but whenever the midwife weighed her it was done using a sling and with her nappy on so that probably accounts for the discrepency. The way A is feeding im not worried, I know she is eating well and she seems so contented she must be gettign enough milk. Only problem is I now have to have a follow up visit with the HV at home next week instead of being allowed to go to clinic if and when i want to. I just hope A puts on enough weight between now and then to shut them all up.

A had her hearing test on Monday which she passed and then on Tuesday she went to see the Dr for the very first time. She hadnt had a dirty nappy since Friday morning and I was getting worried, turned out that its yet another strange thing that can happen to breastfed babies. I had tried plain boiled water, boiled water with small amount of brown sugar and then very very diluted Apple juice and she finally went yesterday afternoon. I have never been happier to see a dirty smelly nappy

Last time i posted I was trying to decide whether i wanted to weigh myself or live in denial a bit longer. Well i took the plunge and it wasnt too bad after all. I do need to lose 2-3 stone before i go away in Oct but that feels do-able afterall it is 4months away.

OOps better go the little vampire is awake and hungry. Will catch up with all the news a bit later

Yeah go scoot family! Also ITS if i havnt done so already. If I am missing people off am really sorry can only blame my lack of brain cells at the mo.

Blimey this being a mum malarky is quite tough going isnt it? I am really struggling with the BF think Archie is not latching on correctly but am determined to perceviere (sp). had a BF counsellour from the hospital turn up today no idea they did that but any way she stayed for 5 mins and said just keep going with it you will get there in the end! So anyway I will figure it out but if anyone has any tips they would be gratefully recieved. Apart from that and the sleepless nights think we are doing ok. Archie has the most comical expressons on his face when sleeping. DP and I spend hours just staring at him, and yesterday when we went out were practically fighting over who got to push the buggy. ;)

JW - photo please!

Just a quick one as Ella is not a happy bunny today. Non stop vom fest here. Tried to go out for our anniversay last night but E wouldnt settle and i didnt manage to express much to leave my mum with. So prepared formula bottle just in case..... think it has caused the vommiting and has made her really grumpy poor thing. Took her to Pixi Photo today and got some gorgeous shots of her. Best not tell dh how much they cost......

MrsJB the 12th is fine. Looking forward to seeing you all

Anyhow better go xx

Hey Pebble and Julie - Tilda is breastfeeding really well but godammn it my boobs are sore. She's chewed a hole on one side of my left boob and this afternoon I was sitting in the living room with a hot compress in my left bra trying to get rid of the golfball in my boob and a tea bag on the other one for a weird lumpy thing near my nipple. Crazy painful business this. But determined to persevere as she is very happy and growing so well. Might have to get Mars to come round and check out our form...
It's so hard to cram it in their mouth before they close down.

Cinnamon, my bf lady who is ace recommends a "nipple sandwich" where you hold the nipple between your finger and thumb to help with the latch. Don't know if that will help. I also roll a muslin/sheet into a cylinder and prop my breast up with it to help as mine are rather large

This is going to sound really awful but does anyone else feel that their baby is really grumpy? I keep reading on here about contented, smiley, happy babies and wishing Ruby was happier. Don't get me wrong she is adorable but I just feel she's never really happy. She's fine when feeding but spends most of her awake time either whining or crying. She's ok if she has a dummy but it falls out all the time. I've tried everything I can think of when she's awake. She's alright if she's held but I am not going to make a rod for my own back by constantly holding her, I know I'll regret it in the long run. I just feel as though I'm doing something wrong because she cries so much, ds was never like this and it's so hard not to compare. I've not really had any baby blues this time but now I am sat here sobbing listening to her crying through the monitor. I'm trying to get her to be better at falling to sleep by herself and settling herself but she's been crying now for 14 minutes and it's breaking my heart. Please someone tell me it's normal for some babies to just cry. I feel like I'm letting her down by not going to her all the time. I feel so torn between just cuddling her and leaving her. I do remember leaving ds to cry at bedtime and he's been a fantastic sleeper ever since, we've never had any problems at night and he's brillliantly behaved during the day too. He's happy, well-adjusted, secure and cheerful. I just think I seem to be doing more harm than good with Ruby. I'm sorry to moan on but I just feel so down at the moment.

You poor thing Abby - it is normal!!! I felt like that on Monday when I had 8 hours of on/off crying! Was sooo pleased when DP walked thru the door! To be honest, reading the baby whisperer has saved me as it goes through loads of scenarios and made me feel in control. It doesn't work all the time as they aren't machines but it means those times when the crying doesn't stop become slightly less frequent - can you get yourself a copy? Can someone look after Ruby for a bit so you can have some you time?

{{{big hugs}}}

xxxx

Ah, thanks BB. I think she has finally gone off - 29 minutes. I have the Baby Whisperer and found it an amazing help the first time. I've just started re-reading it tbh. It really helped me to get ds into a 'routine' which worked well and suited him perfectly. Ruby seems so difficult to read though. She feeds like clockwork but it all goes to pot afterwards. After she's been fed she doesn't have the lovely activity play time, she just cries. I've tried playing with her, leaving her, putting her under a playgym and playing with her, talking to her and nothing works. She just wants to be held with a dummy. Also she doesn't seem to ever sleep for substantial periods, she just cat naps. I'm wondering if she's getting herself over tired because she cat naps and then she can't fall asleep because she is too tired. I'll persevere with the BW and see if I come to anything else I can relate to.
Shit she has woken up again now and is really screaming. It's a wonder our neighbours haven't rung the NSPCC.

Evening all, Abby don't beat yourself up, some babies are big criers especially in the first few months, ds was, he napped only 20 mins every few hours in the day, for the first couple of months and seemed to spend the rest of the time whining, crying and feeding. I think J would cry more when he is awake but for the fact he is fascinated by his brother and sister and them with him so mutually keeping each other entertained, long may it continue Probably you have already tried letting him cry for a bit then going to him to reassure him and then leaving him again? Alternatively many friends swear by cranial osteopathy and say it helped their unhappy babies..

As for bf, J does not latch on as well as his dsis and db did and it's often vvv painful and I'm not used to it, bah humbug. I'm trying to make sure his mouth is as wide open as possible and then shoving him forcibly onto my nipple, sounds extreme but it works for us Also it seems to work better when we are lying down as Mars suggested. Not that we have many opportunities to lie down

Thanks IYS - the midwife did that when she came over and I should give it a go. I remember her saying it helped get a neat mouthful into her. Will try it in 4 hours when Madam is next asking for it.

Abby - could Ruby be windy? I was thinking Tilda was getting a bit grumpy but then she farts like a trooper or lets fly with a massive burp and I realise she has been uncomfortable. I'm still trying to figure her out and what her various cries etc... mean

Evening all...

Thanks so much for all of your best wishes..Hurrah! I have finally graduated to the post natal thread at last!Feel quite literally, 8 pounds lighter and am rejoicing in being able to see my feet!

Madeindevon had her baby BTW..but will leave her to post..she is fine and dandy though..so just juicy and maybe Minipop? to go, then we will be all present and correct..thinking of the two of them..

Have had a lovely day really, DH came back to hosp at 10n after being sent home following the birth and bought me the loveliest flowers and a beautiful bracelet..then we hung out on the postnatal ward till we had been checked over and DD had drunk some milk...quite nice to have the time just with Mae on her own before coming home..

Came home from hosp at about 4...DD2 has been asleep pretty much all day but I hear her crying now downstairs so she might be about ready to properly wake up after being born now..Its absolutely bizarre having another baby in the house..not least as she looks exactly the same as Lily did when she was born..Lily was lovely with her as well when we got back..she stroked her hair and then left her to it..has been a bit clingy but nothing major...yet..

Feel a bit knackered as havent slept since yesterday night..so am off to do birth announcement then try to get a sleep in before DD2 (!) wants some attention...

Lovely to be on here officially at last!

Abby just read your post and it could have been me writing it when my DS was newborn (15 mo ago only!). I felt so down because he just wouldn't settle and particularly after eating he would just cry and cry, the only way he would fall asleep was upright on our chest or shoulder. We felt like such bad parents!! Took me 6 weeks or so to figure out (thank you baby whisperer!!!) that it was reflux. We started a few things which helped enormously, it was having an entirely different baby - a very very happy one! Any of these might be worth a try for you! We did them ALL!

• raise head of his bed by putting books or pillow underneath his mattress
• give fennel tea between BF or use in lieu of water to mix up formula feeds
• hot water bottle resting on his belly at nap & bedtimes
• warm bath before bedtime
• liberal winding during and after feeds in following position: baby high up with belly right on top of your left shoulder, their arms up above their head, rubbing their back in clockwise direction and/or patting their left side on their back firmly

HTH & lots of hugs...

Welcome scoot, big congrats to you all. xxx

Way to go Scooter!!

Nice to have you here for real Scoot and glad all is going well.
Lilkelbel thanks so much for the advice. I had wondered if maybe I wasn't winding R enough, I currently do it once during the feed and once after although I have noticed that often when I pick her up she burps. I usually do it with her sitting on my knee so I'll give it a try over the shoulder instead. I'm just so glad it's not just me. I feel like a first timer all over again, this has thrown me totally. Where would I get the fennel stuff from - a supermarket? Or a health food shop? I don't want to disturb her for tonight but I'll try the raised bed tomorrow. She is sound asleep now and looks so peaceful, it's hard to believe the noise she was making earlier. I just love her so much and so want to do the 'right' thing by her. I can't believe how much this has thrown me off track, I'm normally a very rational, together person but feel so weepy about this.

Hurray Scooter! Congratulations and welcome. Any pics?

Abby, i read my post to you again and didn't realise at the time how unsympathetic it sounded sorry - i was typing in a hurry. Have you asked your mw for advice also? Are you ff? If so could Ruby be reacting to the brand of formula?

Birth announcement done if anyone fancies seeing how I spent the wee hours this morn..
Mae really going for it downstairs now, but DH on duty for the first part of the night (so I can rest up a bit,as feel a bit like I have been pummeled in a fight now)... bless him, I dont deserve him really..
Abby-my friend tried a cranial osteopath when her baby seemed miserable after he was born..it really worked for her, may be worth thinking about?He told her the baby had a headache bought on by birth basically-though those are my laymans terms of course not what he actually said-did some twiddling and voila....big hugs to you anyway..some babies are cuddlers I think..DD1 was...juries out on DD2 thus far..

Hey Mrs JB..Remembered your sage advice re birth afterpains with second or more babies and have loaded up on paracetomol...glad you mentioned it as its kicking in now I think and its not funny!

Night lovelies..

Congrats Scootermum and Mr Scoot.

Cinnamon.... CALL ME!

JulieWoolie.... you can email me on lovelymarslady at aol dot com and we'll have a wee chat ansd see what we can sort out with regards to your bfing.!

You're all doing great!

Morning all. Well after a good night's sleep (Ruby went 7pm - 4.30am) I feel a lot more positive to tackle today. Cam I didn't feel your post was unsymapthetic at all so don't worry, it's just nice to know I'm not alone. I am ff and had wondered about the forumla but I'm loathed to change in case it isn't that and the next one doesn't agree.
I must apologise for my moaning posts last night, I was just feeling a bit fragile and hopeless really. Today is a new day and I'll try again to understand why my little angel cries so much. So far so good today. I had to wake her to take ds to the cm, she had her breakfast bottle, was awake on the journey to the cm and while we were there and now she's sleeping peacefully.
I will look into the cranial osteopath thingy if things continue and see if it's worj trying. Thanks for all the advice and tlc last night girls.

Morning all. Well after a good night's sleep (Ruby went 7pm - 4.30am) I feel a lot more positive to tackle today. Cam I didn't feel your post was unsymapthetic at all so don't worry, it's just nice to know I'm not alone. I am ff and had wondered about the forumla but I'm loathed to change in case it isn't that and the next one doesn't agree.
I must apologise for my moaning posts last night, I was just feeling a bit fragile and hopeless really. Today is a new day and I'll try again to understand why my little angel cries so much. So far so good today. I had to wake her to take ds to the cm, she had her breakfast bottle, was awake on the journey to the cm and while we were there and now she's sleeping peacefully.
I will look into the cranial osteopath thingy if things continue and see if it's worj trying. Thanks for all the advice and tlc last night girls.

Whoops sorry!

Abbey hop today is a better day for you, hav you tried coilef, its about £10 and you put in in made up feeds it breaks up something that babies find hard to digest in the formula, i gave it to A for about a week when he was being difficult to wind - just a suggestion for you, i know its awful when they wont settle dd was quite grizzy for a while and its very draining

Thanks Lupins. I haven't tried Colief yet. I tried Infacol and that didn't seem to do anything so maybe I'll give the other one a try.

Abby - do not apologise for being a normal worried mum!

Because my DH is German we had access to loads of Hipp stuff including their fennel tea mix for babies, which I've never seen sold in the UK. I think you can get Hipp fennel teabags at most supermarkets where they sell Hipp stuff though, in the baby aisle. Failing that you can just use normal fennel tea bags or even infuse water with fennel seeds. If it works for you, you may want to get a supply from one of the non-UK sites on the internet which sell it - just google Hipp fennel tea.

FWIW we also tried Colief, gripe water, and Infacol, but no improvement.

Back to my hungry baby - 15 feeds yesterday - OMG is there enough coffee to get me throught this???