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.

Hello all- justg a quick pleased as punch post.... don't know if you remember my posts from last week about Seren not going to sleep in her cot? Well we managed to suss her sleeping in the cot, and last night, not only did she go down and settle herself, but she slept from 6.30pm til 4am! 9.5 Hours! Her best by a long shot yet!
As you can tell I am so pleased!

Hope you are all OK and enjoying your sat evenings!
XX

Hi everyone.. sorry I am crap at the moment.. haven't read up on what has been happening.

Dh is still away another 2weeks to go.. (the last four have dragged,) This weekend ghe hasnt been able to get home so feeling very sorry for myself.. I suppose it is getting me accustomed ready for feb.. when I will be on my own for 6 months!!

How time flies.. can't believe there is a due July 08thread!! . I have been in germany for a year today..

Hope everyone is ok

Love
2+1x

Hi all,

Can I just vent for a short while. I feel like life has just turned to sh*t! We were burgled last Friday night while we slept upstairs. It has totally freaked me out! They woke me up and I wandered downstairs not realising. I keep having these terrible 'what if' moments.

On top of that I managed to lock myself out of the house on Thursday because of the new door lock and then tonight my DH decides to start an argument with me about breastfeeding.
We are going to America in two weeks time to see relatives and he is trying to convince me that breastfeeding is not accepted in America and that LO should be taking a bottle (which he will not currently accept)

I feel so low tonight I'm kind of glad I am breastfeeding because otherwise I would go and get rotten drunk!

OH, sorry to moan.I know that sh*t happens.

2+1 I hope the next few weeks go quickly for you.

Ah Myfairone how absolutely pants for you.
I hope the burglars didn't take anything from you. I can't imagine how scary that would be.
As for the breastfeeding- I would carry on with it. So what if its not as widely accepted in America? You can be discreat about it but I don't see why on earth you can't carry on feeding your LO the way YOU want to. I also thing you DH should back you up on this. Of course, if you are happy with LO taking a bottle then go for it! I was having a quick look in I think it was Baby whisperer and the recommendation was to offer the baby the bottle and only the bottle. If they don't take it, don't offer the breast but wait an hour and try the bottle again. Basically keep doing this until they take the bottle. It sounds harsh but they say it will take less than 24 hours and I guess they are right when they say baby won't starve in that time. We are thinking about trying it on our LO, for the simple reason I want her to start taking the bottle sometimes, and she has taken it in the past but is fussy now. Still debating whether this is the best way but we have tried pretty much everything else.
Know what you mean about wanting to get drunk- I could do with a night out on the time and get in a load of dancing and drinking!!
2+1- I can't believe there is a due in July 08 thread either! More though I can't believe its a year ago we were all getting our BFPs! I hope the next couple of weeks go really fast for you. We grew up in Germany with my Dad being away for months on end and I know how hard it was for my mum. I admire people who can do it as I certainly would not be able to.

Is anyone else missing being pregnant? I and, I want to be pregnant again (although not have a baby at the moment if you see what I mean!!)

good night everyone x

MFO - I didn't realise BF wasn't accepted in America. However don't be put off. An American friend of mine living hear BF her LO and I'm sure she still did when she went to visit her relatives. Sorry to hear your having a bad time.

PPS,

I miss being pregnant (I love the excitement of what's to come) and it seems strange to think I will probably never be pregnant again.

You might be interested to hear that a friend of mine had a baby a week or so before me in June, and is pregnant again (10 weeks gone)! So there will be only 11 or 12 months between them. And it was really hard to conceive baby no 1, so its amazing how quick it was.

I saw another friends newborn baby this week (4 days old) and its amazing how small she looked even though she was over 9lb. It made me realise how fast they grow up, and although there's something amazing about newborns, I wouldn't want to go back to that phase.

Hi everyone,

Hope you're all doing well. Am flagging a bit today. LO just seems so cranky all day that I'm despairing. She's 18 weeks tomorrow and I can remember with DD1 how sorted we were by this age and it's making me worry. I can't put her down anywhere for longer than five minutes. Normally she howls if anyone else holds her but me. She doesn't seem to get absorbed in her toys or mobiles at all. She's got the cutest smile when I hold her, but I can't hold her all day. She really wails the second I put her down to go and fill the kettle or anything.
I'm going back to work in January and we've got a lovely nanny starting in a month, but I'm worried she'll take one look at clinging DD2 and quit!
Anyone else having this? It just goes to show how different they all. With DD1 I remember sitting and wrapping CHrismtas presents for hours at this stage, and she'd be quite chilled and just happy to watch. Gah!

,myfairone-sorry you are having a rough time at the moment.. I would do what you want to do re bottle and breast.. it still makes me sad that lee is on the bottle, I would love for hm to be latched on.

PPS- I would love another baby I am so so so broody.. (dh would kill me if he could here me.. or he sees this!!) If I had the money to buy another car ( a mpv) then I would defo go for it NOW.. (well as soon as he came back anyway..lol)

My grandparents and an aunt are coming over tommorrow.. at last someone from my side will see Lee!!!. been getting the house ready today.. just the sofa needs washing am going to do that now before I go to bed..

Take care all..

(Has anyone satrted to wean yet.. or are people waiting for the 6month.. I tried the other weeek as he is waking for an extra bottle but he is no ready he enjoyed the food but it pained him.. I am going to try later this month.. (he is 15weeks I think!!!! lost track!!)

myfair one - that is very horrid - poor you.

DS has started waking up in the night more since the clocks changed....I am VERY much hoping that this is a temporary thing!

2+1- lots of hugs, I don't know how you cope so well with 3 kids and your man being away so much- I have loads of respect for you. DP has been working long hours but is rarely actually away for more than 3 days at a time, and I always long for him to come home to regain some sanity!!

Myfairone- you really have been having a dose of bad luck I wouldn't feel any pressure from your DH to stop BFing- I have friend in the US who BF their kids- in public too. Do whatever you feel is right. I BF quite a bit in public (e.g. at the swimming pool today!!) & you can be so discreet no one realises what you are doing. RE bottles- I had huge battles with DS when I was trying to get him to take one at around 5 months old, and he ended up only accepting a cup (tommee tippee hard-spouted type). I tried the 'hard core' method of refusing BFing and kept offering a bottle (in fact many different types of bottle, and roped in everyone other than me to offer it) but he got into such a state I just couldn't do it. This time round with DD I offered her her first bottle at 7 weeks old and she's been taking a bottle once a day ever since so she hasn't been able to become too choosy. I haven't had much time to express milk so from 10 weeks she's had one bottle of formula each day, and that seems to be working fine (usually done in the eve).

PPS- I too miss being pregnant... it might sound crazy considering everything (CF, pre-eclampsia etc) but DP & I would like to try for one more when DD is a year...at least that's what we think at the mo...

Also we are planning to get married in June next year!! So can't get preggers before then...too much stress!

Right, DD & DS are snoozing, cleaned the kitchen, DP is at work...so I suppose I should do some work on my PhD...hmmmm brain still isn't working well!! Goodnight all xxxx

oops I killed the thread

Hope everyone's ok? xx

madmum - congrats on setting a date for your wedding.

Every time I tried posting yesterday dd got stroppy! She's asleep at the moment, but not for much longer. sorry I will change that - she woke up as i typed! Oh well. She is now sucking her thumb sat on my lap.

I miss being pregnant too, although I am besotted with my dd. I would like dc2 sooner rather than later, but hubby not so sure. I think he wants me to get over my pnd beforehand. Guess it makes sense.

I managed to get into work last Friday to see everyone. Its been a big hurdle for me, but I did it! It wasn't half as traumatic as I thought it would be.

myfairone - hope your luck is changing. so sorry to hear of the burglary. Re bf - if you are happy to continue, don't let dh pressure you. I bought some bf tops from mamaway which have made a difference to how confident I feel feeding in public (which is why I managed to go to work as I knew dd would need feeding and I would have to do this by reception as we're not allowed to take children beyond this point.

2+1 I don't know how you cope with dh being away. Sending lots of hugs. Enjoy the visit from your grandparents and aunt. How is your mum now? Hope she is doing much better.

pps glad the sleeping seems to be sorted now. good luck and well done for persevering.

I'm going to the second session of a pnd discussion group organised by my hv. Hopefully I won't spend half of it in tears (with DD screaming in the creche too). We had homework to do too but I can't remember what it was! ooops

Right gotta go be a good mummy. Well I better change dd's nappy before it gets so wet she starts crying!

Hope everyone is well and has a great day.

Hi MMN - it always seems difficult to get on here on a Monday! Just grabbing a few spare minutes while O is napping. We've got a busy few days getting ready for our trip to the USA on Saturday. O's pile of stuff to pack is much bigger than mine and DH's! A lot of it is "just on case" which is silly really as we are staying with my sister and can drive to the shops in minutes to get anything we need. I'm feeling a little nervous about the trip but know it will be fine.

I'm off to a local Pizza Express in a little while - they run some mother and baby coffee mornings and I thought I would give one a try. I don't know anyone going, but these days feel much more confident about going to places on my own. Before having O I probably would have made an excuse not to do something like this. I feel that having a baby has made me a lot less stressed about life - I was always a glass half empty kind of girl. I know it brings its own worries and concerns, but I think it puts lots of other things in perspective (like working in insurance!!!!).

2+1 - hope the next two weeks whizz by for you and after that the time goes nice and slow until February.

Myfairone - sorry to hear about your burglary and how scary being in the house. Keep up the good work with the bf - my sister lives in the States and bf her baby and found lots of support and says it was very acceptable. she says she felt people judged more when she bottle fed her first. I feel like that now - that people are frowning at me when I get out a bottle in public - Like 2+1, I would love to still be bf.

Got to go now as lots of chatter awaits at Pizza Express!

Take care everyone.

MelissaM- hope your PND group meeting went well- do you find it's hoping? I'm finding I am up & down a lot these days but don't think I have PND... I really admire people for coping with it & looking after a newborn too. Lots of hugs to you! Also the mamaway website is fab, have just ordered a top!

Catstar- hope the Pizza Express coffee morning was a success! Know what you mean about being braver once having a baby... You just have to get out there don't you, else go insane! Hope the packing goes well, we were away for just over 3 weeks visiting family in S. England & with 2 kids filled up the boot of our estate car so don't envy trying to pack to fly!!

How is everyone doing with losing the baby weight? Disappointingly mine seems reticent to leave me!! Don't think I've lost much more than I did in the first month... but have no time for exercise which doesn't help.. So managed to go for a quick cycle yesterday- & nearly died I am so unfit!! Legs were like jelly!! How do you fit exercise in when you have kids?? Might try to address my diet a bit as crave carbs all the time at the mo...more than when I was pregnant! Must be the cold weather...

Madmumnika, I think I've lost about a stone and a half. I'm about a stone heavier than I was pre-pregnancy, but it's definitely harder to lose this time. The only exercise I'm doing is pushing the pair of them round in a double buggy for an hour or two each lunchtime and the sweat just pours of me, but I don't seem to drop any weight! I was working out today that the combined weight of DD1 + DD2, shopping and buggy must be nearly five stone. You'd have thought that would be enough. And it's very hilly round here, I can tell you...

The thing I'm most perplexed by is my spare type in the middle. Have alwyas been rather skinny tbh, but can't shift it at all. DH says it's because I had a c-section this time but what that's got to do with it is anyone's guess. I comfort myself thinking that I'm not allowed to run or do anything aerobic for at least six months. So any other c-sections people out there, we don't have to worry until at least after Christmas. Hurrah!

How's your little one doing, MadMum?

Hello folks.

Been away for a week in the sun....Skim read the thread so sorry for not giving individual replies.

Bf on a plane is bliss. No worrying about powders hot water etc. We had a bit of a nightmare coming back though as dd overtired as she hadn't had a daytime nap, and the leg room was non existent, and you they wouldn't let us pay for extra legroom because under 2s aren't allowed on Exit seats, if you don't pay for a seat then you don't get a meal so she ate a load of picnic foods. They wouldn't let us have the 2 children in the same row either. I wish we had aisle seats.

Bf in public, it's been mentioned before but I tried it and was very impressed with how easy this was. I bought a few very cheap strappy vests from NewLook (available in almost every colour) and wore them under a t-shirt. Pull the vest down and the t-shirt up and you don't expose any tummy flesh.

Pizza Express... Mmmmm

Weight

More children? I have sucessfully put my sister off having children for a little bit... in fact her dp said 'thats it I'm going for the snip when we get back'

Jennster- thats how I feed in public too. Those tops in new look at fab on only a couple of pounds!

Well, this is the weekend we are going to try and get LO onto the bottle. Not for every feed but for a couple a day I think. Should be a fun weekend....

As for weight, after about a month I was only about 6lb off my pre pregnancy weight but now, well I am about a stone off. I just can't stop eating and its mainly rubbish food. Very annoying.

hello to all those who have been away.

PPS - think I might be joining you on adding a formula feed....I feel like ds is draining me dry. Does anyone else feel like that? I feel more tired than at the beginning.

On the plus side have found some baby groups to go to, even yoga with a creche.

Hope everyone is having a good weekend.

Well- tomorrow is the 'get Seren on the bottle day'. We have tried all the things we can think of so we are going to be harsh and offer her nothing but the bottle. I feel mean but she needs to take it. I always said I would BF until 6 months so still got a couple of months but the sooner she can do it the better. I do feel like a horrible mum though.

DS Baptism tomorrow. House has never looked tidier. Children very well behaved this afternoon and slept for a couple of hours while we cleaned. Lancashire hot pot and apple pie for food,and the only reason for the tidy house is the fact I haven't done the cooking myself. My mum has done the cake, I've done the decoration.

Hi Justabout- I'm giving her EBM. Wasn't sure whether formula as well as bottle would be just too much change for her.
So far this morning tried her twice and shes taken about 2 ounces. Shes not screaming though, just moaning and is happy to keep putting the teat in her mouth so I don't think its that she objects too I think its the milk not being from me. Reasurring to know it only took your friend a day though.

Jennster hope the baptism goes well.
I went to a baptism last Sunday and is was lovely. I am not religious so we won't be getting Seren chrsitened or baptised but I really like what it symbolises.

Looks like we need a new thread. As I can't think of anything witty it will be called;
July 2007 part 2- 4 months in, doesn't time fly?

Hi Girls,

I've been away practically since Isabella was born - too hard to type with a colicky baby and then we had a surprise return to living in the States. I just logged on after loads of time to see how you're all doing and saw the post by Myfairone about breastfeeding in the USA.

Honey, tell your husband this is not a third world country (President Bush notwithstanding) and we absolutely breastfeed here, in public, etc. Jeez, it blows my mind to hear what people think about America. If your husband is in fact American, it might just be that he has ultra prude parents. Maybe THEY voted for Bush?

;)