July 2007 - yet starting in June!

[Jamantha]

Well, I can't see a post natal July 2007 thread, so will start this, even though Charlotte, my DD was born 4.5 weeks early in June. I'm sure the other July ladies will be along soon enough.

Have had 2 nights at home now. Yesterday afternoon was fairly distressing as Charlotte wouldn't latch on, and if she did she wouldn't suck. But have got loan of electric pump from hospital, and support from midwives and now managing with comination of breast, expressed and formula milk, sometimes all three in the same feed. Finding it quite emotional, with all the issues associated with feeding one's baby, but trying to stay calm as found out yesterday that getting self into a state doesn't help anyone.

Dh has just gone out to get some things we're still missing, and I'm putting my feet up for a bit. Phil & Ted has just arrived so we might try a stroll down to the ante natal class tonight!

Any how, hope there are lots of lovely birth stories to come from July ladies, and that we can swap advice, give each other moral support etc over the coming weeks and months.

Even if i've been adding to it all day.

bubble my lo has had sticky eyes from birth hes had drops but they havent changed. we go for our 6 week check next week so I will mention it to doc. they dont seem to bother him tho. Thinking of all those with probs esp Madmum. think positive big hugs to all.

Typhoonsmum - you're here at last! Congratulations on your new little man!

We saw a physio at the hosptital today about LO's neck and she's referring us to an orthapedic surgeon. He's got a waiting list of six weeks, but we might be able to queue jump as LO is so small - they see babies quickly appaently. But the good news is, it should be correctable with exercises and not surgery, but they want him to check and confirm. Fingers crossed.

How does everyone get their LO's down in the evening? With DD1, she'd crash out by seven o'clock and we'd move her Moses basket upstairs. This LO tends to be awake until 10 or 11, and then we rock her to sleep and sneakily put her down. Curious to know how others are managing, particularly those who've got their evenings back to themselves!

well i took her to docs got some drops in the end they got worse as day went on all thick tellow gunk so glad i took her hope they may start to inmprove now i think it scare her when she wakes up and cant open her eyes cause they stuck together bless her

Don't add warm milk to chilled, but yes it's fine to keep adding them when the same temp. pia but easier than expressing.

windy, clingy baby here! I find it reassurung that Im not the only one. Went blackberry picking with older 2 (as they were doing my head in inside!) and put Clare in babycarrier just to get her to sleep. Twas a very successful walk - she is sooo content sleeping plastered on top of you!

Cakehead - my evening isnt my own yet at all. I feel v inadequate when I read about routines. Even though this is my 3rd, cant escape the feeling of doing it wrong.

Thinking of you all!!

Cakehead - like you I'm also missinf most of my evenings. Grace ends up feeding on and off and sleeping on and off for most of the evening before finally passing out at 11ish. This is really tiring, but the good thing is they will soon grow out of it (speaking from experience of dd when she would do this) Must say, she does sometimes go down at 8.30ish, but thats after feeding her loads and loads.

Groveregg - you are right about the breast milk in sticky eye thing. Was told that first time around and Grace had a sticky eye developing the other day. A quick squirt of the magical breast juice and its all disappeared!!

Typhoon - congratulations to you - it certainly sounded like a speedy delivery after the long wait. We matched in our pregnancy time - both 40+13 (I went in to be induced on 40+12 but she didn't arrive until the day after!)

Sorry to hear about colic and wind for so many of you - am sure things will get better!

Big hugs xx

Hi All
Only just managing to post on here properly! The past 4 weeks have gone by in a blur.
Only browsed through the other posts quickly, but those of you who are having problems I hope they get sorted out quickly.

Doing OK so far I think. Am pleased that I am managing to BF, although just one night of DH getting up would be heaven. Just beginning to express now so hopefully that night won't be too long coming! Those of you that are BF- where do you get the cup thing for to put on your other boob to collect the leaking milk? I swear I would be able to supply Sainsburys with my leakages and it seems such a waste!

Seren has a sticky eye too- must try the breast milk thing.

She is going through a screaming period at the moment. And a refusing to go to sleep in the moses basket in the day period. Very tiring and time consuming as when she is awake she won't settle for very long in her bouncer or on her play mat so end up holding her most of the time. Oh well- I'm sure it will get better soon!!

Overall though I am loving being a mum. Hard work but feel like I've always had her. Sometimes I find it hard to believe she is here though and keep expecting to have to give her back!

Well- shes asleep now so am going to give expressing another go and then will catch some zzzzz whilst she is! (Mind you shes pretty good at night- I tend to only have to give her one feed).

Take care
PPS x

Fed my LO at 10 last night and he woke up at 3 and then 7! I know its a miracle and it won't happen again for a very long time but wow! I slept like a log and feel so 'normal' today!

I know I'm going to pay for it today but at least feel that I can cope having had some sleep.

Sticky eyes seem worse today, must try the breast milk thing!

Okay, how does everyone else manage to fit in a shower and breakfast if LO won't go down? I just fed him and he's wide awake, when I put him down he screams...I'm not showered yet....what to do?! Do I let him scream while I shower? I just hate to hear him cry.

Big hugs to all and Cake, fingers crossed you get a quick appointment and its correctable by exercise.

If lo is crying, but clean fed and watered, then I just have a super quick shower. By now we should all have got the hang of indigestion inducing food troughing.

Yep, have to say, LO has to holler while I have a shower in the morning. I remember doing it with DD1 as well, and then miraculously coming out of the shower one morning to find she'd dozed off in her cot. That was beginning of her morning nap routine. But this LO has no intention of doing that yet, clearly! Must go! Can hear her starting to cry!

With DD, I would end up not showered, and still in my dressing gown in the afternoon because I didn't want to hear her crying when I put her down.

But I think it is much better to feel clean and fed (and in control) even if it means 5 mins of crying. Over time, she would sit in her bouncy chair and watch me in the shower so it does get easier.

That being said, I haven't had my shower yet today, although DS is napping now, so time to go and get ready for the day!

Thanks for the comments. I thought it was just me that didn't have the knack of getting him to stay quiet while I showered. That said, he has whined the entire time I have been getting ready but its not a full blown cry.

Showered and kind of dressed and don't look any better for it but at least I know I'm clean!

Typhoonsmum - I'm so glad to hear of your safe arrival. I hope now that you are on your way to recovery and can join us at last!

This has to get worse. Since DS was born he has slept very well. In the hospital he'd have a feed at 11pm and then I wouldn't hear him till 2am. He'd have another feed and then be out till 6pm ish. He'd only wake me up once in the night. Not bad for a newborn. Since we got home he has been more of a pain but still roughly sticking to that pattern.

I know he is only 4 days old. When should I expect it to get worse?

Another question. Have decided to use the breast pump I had with DD. That is nearly 5 years old now. When I try to use it nothing comes out at all. All that happens is any milk leaks around the seal and I get wet. Could the seal on it go with age. I know my milk may not have come in properly yet but I manage to collect about 2oz in a breast shell every feed so something should come out of the pump shouldn't it. Breasts are feeling very full and getting sore. So do I need to get a new breast pump.

typhoonsmum - dont worry about when it will change just enjoy it while you get a chance!

So glad to hear that the LO is sleeping, at least it gives you chance to recover.

When I used my breast pump (new one) for the first time it didnt work too well either. I hadnt put the bit that goes round the breast in properly so it was all leaky. Plus your milk may not be in properly yet. Maybe leave it a few days to give your breasts a chance to regulate.
I found cabbage leaves excellent for taking some of the ache away...just make sure you cut a little hole for the nipple to poke through.

okay, here's a non baby question: What is everyone wearing? I seem to be too big for my pre prego clothes (Theres a surprise!) and the maternity stuff is now all baggy where I got so big!

I seem to be living in a selection of joggin bottoms..I have two t-shirts that allow me to pop my boobs out but thats about it.

Anyone else having this problem? Or was I just not prepared?

Myfairone,

I had to go out and buy some jeans and trousers (1 size up from my pre-preg size) as I had the same problem.

However, with breastfeeding, I am now finding that the weight is coming off still, and they are now a bit baggy, and I can get into some of my pre-preg stuff.

So it may be worth riding it out a few weeks to see if you can get back into old clothes, or just buy one nice pair of trousers/jeans to see you through.

PPS- You can buy "breast shells" in boots or mothercare I think. They are a great invention- save lots of money on breats pads, and can use the milk for bottle-feeding.

By the way- if anyone has bought Boots washable breastpads, don't put them in the washer without the little bag. I have lost 4 of the 6 already and our washer is now playing up, and we've pulled parts of 2 of them out of the drainage bit already. They must have come apart and got sucked through the holes somehow! My other set were from Mothercare (I think) and they have been fine. They said the bag was to make it easy to find them after washing- they didn't say it was to stop them escaping into your drum! Grrrr.

Just popping in to say Hi to everyone and sympathies to those who are having a really hard time (just scanned the last few posts but can't remember who has said what ) We are using Infacol too which seems to be helping and Isla is much more settled in the day (although she is still completely bonkers in the evenings - panting, head banging, hiccupping etc. ) I have to do about 20 laps round the living room wiht her bent over my arm to get her to doze off, then she wakes 20 minutes later demanding "MORE BOOB JUICE" Seem to remember DD1 was exactly the same, and she grew out of it by about 10 weeks and we got our evenings back, so halfway there now

Typhoonsmum - congratulations! Were you the last one to pop?

PS - Typhoonsmum - I think things started to get a bit more tricky around the end of week 2 for us.... but you may just have a very good baby [fingers crossed emoticon]!

OK, those of you who have babies that you can put down for naps in the day: what's your secret?

Unless I'm pushing the pram or carrying LO over my shoulder, she will not sleep in the day. If I put her in her bouncy chair, she cries. If I put her in cot in the dark, she cries (although bizarrely will go to to sleep this way at night without protest). I can see she's tired. Her eyes roll, she sparks out the minute I put her on my shoulder, but she will not go down for a nap. DD1 was like this too, and I remember looking at other babies who just seemed to conk out wherever and wondering why mine didn't!

Yup bodkin I was the last one to pop. Was getting lonely over on the ante natal thread on my own.

Bought a new breast pump this morning and got 4oz off one boob. Fed James from the other and I feel a lot less like Jordan. Now have two bottles of expressed milk in the fridge for DP to feed him later so I can have a nice long bath! That is the plan anyway.

DD is finally back home. She has been with MIL since the beginning of last week. It was really nice to have a few days childfree before James was born and a couple after to get my head round it all. I do feel a bit overwhelmed with the two of them but DD is very good running about answering the door and phone and doing little jobs for me.

Okay whats wrong with me?

Decided to make a trip to Mothercare...its just a short car ride and you can park right outside. Went in and bought a few things and then on the way home I had this really weird feeling come over me like I had to get home really fast. Started shaking and sweating and thought I was going to faint.

Im now home and thought it may be because I haven't eaten much but am sitting here crying for no reason.

This really is so unlike me and I have no idea why I feel this way. LO is 3 weeks today and I thought I would be feeling fine by now!

Myfairone- sorry you are feeling like this.
Have you spoken to anyone about how you are feeling (apart from us)? Maybe a doctor or something who may be able to give you suggestions? Is there someone who can come out with you the next few times until you get used to it?
Don't really know what to suggest but hope you feel better about things soon. xxxx