August 2007- More boys than girls? Our beautiful summer babies are arriving at last!

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Thought I'd start a thread to give somewhere for Jem, Washersaurus and Bresha to discuss their little ones and make all those of us waiting impatiently jealous!

Who will be next??????

hey girls
shameless gloat

I have given up any embarrassment I might ever have had about feeding in public - my norks are still pretty petite so hitching my top up from the bottom actually exposes more than unbuttoning from the top...
Have so far fed dd (without comment) in Starbucks, on a bench in a shopping centre, on Paddington station, in Hyde Park and on the 15.48 train to Cheltenham!

Lovely photo MrsB.

I still feel uncomfortable feeding in public - trying to fill him up before setting off any where but am getting better. The worst place I had to feed was at a 5 year olds party - went to find a quiet place but ended up with 7 kids stood staring and asking lots of questions (kids don't hold back!).

Katybird - are you drinking enough? I find that I get a really bad head ache if I don't have a drink very regularly. MW said should be having 4 litres of water a day.

Having spent 9 months trying to think of a name that makes it difficult to be teased about at school we had nicknamed ds spewy euey - or just spew for short!

DH away for next couple of days am really worried about getting everyone where they need to be. My ds1 keeps trying to stick a muslin in ds2 mouth everytime he crys (he has one as a comfort blanket) - hoping that he won't sufficate while I'm not looking!

Sore cracked nipples ?? Feeding painful ?? Worry no more. Head down to your local hardware store and buy 2 plastic tea strainers. Smother your nipples in Kamillosan and cover with the strainer inside your bra. Sleep well and wake up the next morning with them feeling like they've never been touched. sounds insane ?? bloody works !!! Allows the lotion to stay on and not get rubbed off by pads/bra etc whilst letting air to the painful area to aid healing. Did this in the first week of feeding Patrick - magical !!

Mrs Badger, it is a shameless gloat but what a cutie anyone with a cutie like that would gloat too.

DD is 6 weeks on Friday but think she has hit her 6 week growth spurt a couple of days early. Seemed to spend all of yesterday and last night with her attached to me. She fed alot this morning before we got up at 7 am, puked all over me and has been a model baby ever since. Think she is saving up all her feeding/alertness for tonight.

DS is very good with her (keeps wanting to kiss her all the time) but I don't leave them alone together. Yesterday MIL had already offered to have him in the morning so as it turned out I was ok to sit and feed all morning. Went to Mum & Dad's in the afternoon so that they could keep an eye on him whilst I continued on the marathon feeding session. Am lucky really that I have them to fall back on.

Anybody else still bfing? Was a bit cross yesterday when I went for my smear. Had taken her with me and the practice nurse started discussing bfing and then said "the trouble with it is that you don't know how much they are getting". FGS DD looks like a sumo . If I hadn't done this before I would have been quite paranoid, especially as she just wanted to feed all day. I always think that if enough is coming out the nappy end, you must be putting enough in.

Talking of which, will have to go as she is doing her grunting and going a bit red. Time for another nappy change!

Well today wasn't too bad - being my first day on my own. Dd went to mum's so I got to go back to bed this morning when I finally got ds back to sleep at 9:30. Didn't get showered and dressed until 1:30 but I guess that's normal. Going to get him weighed again tomorrow. Expecting him to have put on loads. He's gone up an ounce on every feed now and is still hungry after less than 2 hours.

That's great katybird. Hope it continues to improve.

I have to say I'm so envious of you all for persevering with the breastfeeding. Not a day goes by when I don't regret my decision to give up. I really don't think I could have carried on but it still upsets me to think that I couldn't feed my baby. I don't really have anywhere else to share my feelings, as dh wanted me to formula feed from the start considering the bad time I had with dd last time, so I hope I don't ruin the mood. I'm genuinely pleased that you're all doing so well!

boobooma - Good name - my dd's a Katelyn. She's not too bad with ds fortunately. I do sometimes leave her alone with him but not for long. She means well as she hugs him a lot but it's annoying when it's taken ages to get him to sleep and she does her best to wake him up.

Finally managed to get some video of the baby this morning. I felt bad cos I'd got loads of dd by 4 weeks and hundreds of photos but I guess it's much more difficult when you've already got kids. We're getting some professional photos taken at boots at the beginning of August. I'm really looking forward to getting some really nice pictures of him.

Gill - try not to beat yourself up too much about the BF. I couldn't do it with dd or ds1 and felt a complete failure everytime anyone mentioned it. Kept feeling as though I had to justify my reasons for giving up to just about anyone! This time I went to see a BF councellor (sp?) before I had him - found it very easy but also a bit of a bind and can't remember why I was do desparate to do it before!

Even though there is a lot of pressure to BF, try to remember the positives of FF - the biggest one being a full nights sleep! My 2 ff babies are healthy (not obese or allegic) children and it makes no difference now.

hope that sounds supportive - putting sentences together not my strong point at the moment!

morning - we seem to be settling into a bit of a routine - at night heather sleeps for 4.5hours, then 3 then 2 when she gets up around about 6ish. means that i'm going to bed around 8pm but at least getting some sleep.

mrsB - what a gorgeous baby

TT - i've got visions of hardware stores throughout the UK selling out of tea strainers!

gill - i feel like guilt about not being able to breast feed(my boobs produced nothing - it was the same last time as well). the first time i had to bottle feed heather in public i went and sat in the car as i thought everyone would be looking and pointing at me for not breast feeding .

however, in some ways it's probably been for the best as DD1 is jealous enough when bottle feeding never mind if i was breast feeding and DP helps with the night time feeds. the only thing is the cost! at the moment we are using the cartons rather than making up feeds - will need to stop doing this soon though.

well off to get ready now - taking heather into work to show her off today

Hi everyone,

TT - like the tip for nipples!

mila had her hips checked yesterday and all clear, very relieved as my sister was in hospital on traction for months and in a plaster cast for 12 months as a baby with dislocated hips, breech babies higher risk.

she woke up wanting to be fed immediately, even though she'd had a big feed an hour or so before, so I fed her in the Dr's room. But I feel hopeless trying to position her when I'm out, sitting in different chairs and trying not to expose my whole body! Mila got frantic and then windy and the Dr kept up a stream of negative comments from what a bad tempered, stubborn baby etc.. then said I must be eating foods that are giving her stomach pains. All this whilst looking aghast at me attempting to balance a screaming baby and shove a nipple into her mouth. It was horrible I felt like a complete disaster. Then Mila pooed and peed on the Dr during the examination and wriggled the whole time and the Dr just stared horrified by us!

On the up side, we had a constant stream of mostly women cooing at Mila. Does everyone have this when they take a walk with the baby? It is lovely constantly beaming and graciously accepting compliments on my gorgeous baby! Strangest thing happened yesterday when one woman descended upo us took out a pound coin and tried to rub it on Mila's hand "for luck" and then tucked it into the pram! Dp was like "what's that all about? is it a scottish custom??" he decided to buy a lottery ticket with it just in case!

and must add gorgeous badger cub! love the blanket too.

and Gill I fantasise about bottlefeeding sometimes, it must be great to share the feeding and know you can leave lo with dad and spend time with dd. and you did start lo bf so he did get the all important colostrum and early milk, you shouldn't worry so much luv. and you can always bf the next one...!

which reminds me, anyone started planning contraception yet? HV keeps asking me, at first just snorted at the idea of having sex again.. but now I conceded it may happen again one day. I know it sounds foolish but I'm not sure what to take. The mini pill sounds hard work, taking exact time each day but I don't know anything positive about IUD's etc.. so what do you all do?

itchy, I was on the minipill before this pg and it's not as awful as all that - I used to carry it with me in my handbag and set a repeat alarm on my phone so I never forgot.
The trick is to settle on a time that'll always be convenient - I started taking it at 7am (ie when I got up for work) but it meant I never got a lie in.
9am (with first cup of tea at work) was much better.

HI everyone,

not posted for ages everytime I sit down to read and catch up lo demands my attention. He's currently fed and lying on his changing mat though and has already pee'd on me so think he can lie in the buff for 5 mins.

From my quick catch up looks like everyone is doing well. Gill don't feel guilty about how you feed your baby - a happy healthy child is all that matters.

Itchy it always makes me chuckle when they ask you about contraception. The midwife mentioned it to me before I left the hospital I was tempted to say it's less than 12 hours since I gave birth - do you want to have a look at my nether regions because he's not going near them for a while !!! Though should start thinking about it now that all is healed I suppose. Think I need to chat with DH though about whether we'll try for a third - I must be mad think the lack of sleep is getting to me !!!!

Thanks everyone for your support. I know my feelings are a bit irrational as I have a healthy 2.5 yr old who was ff from the same age. I'm sure I'll get over it soon enough. Hopefully I'll have better luck next time. After all, I've learnt lots from the last two experiences and I'll definitely have to remember the tea strainer trick - thanks TT.

itchy - sounds like you had an awful time at the doctors. He got his commupance (sp?) for being so unsupportive. I get lots of comments, mainly old women cooing, whenever we go shopping. Never heard of the pound coin thing though. For contraception we'll just go back to using condoms. It makes me laugh too when they mention it so soon after the birth. Dh keeps mithering me about it and is more than happy to do the night feeds if it means he gets to have sex sooner.

stretchmarks - I've been thinking about when we're going to have the next baby. It's been a much better experience this time and ds is a much easier baby than dd was - when I'd just had dd it was the last thing on my mind. We'll probably leave the same age gap of 2.5 years again.

Itchy, think the dr got what he deserved

GillL, your LO sounds happy enough to me.

TT, we are off to a Wedding on Sat, just the night do. Have spent all afternoon trying to find an outfit to hide my massive bfing bra and huge stomach, sigh. Anybody else still look about 5 monts pg? As for the feeding at the wedding, I just usually hitch up my top. Have found that nobody usually notices and in fact, have had a few people ask to hold the baby and have had to point out that LO is feeding and they can hold them later.

The 24 hour marathon, 6 week growth spurt, feeding session must have increased my supply 'cos last night LO went down at 10 pm and didn't stir again until 3am. Fed her again, lots, and put her down at 4.30am and she woke up at 8am! Yeah

Thanks Ineedsomesleep.

I followed your example my2weegirls and went to bed after ds's 8:30pm feed and he didn't wake again til 12:45. Previously I had been waking him around 11pm but this way is much better. I actually got about 7 1/2 hours sleep last night (albeit in bits).

I'm getting a break from feeding and changing tomorrow. Mum is having both kids for a few hours so dh and I can sort out the loft. Not very exciting, I know, but it'll give me some time off. Dh has even offered to do a night feed tonight so I get some extra sleep, but he does have an ulterior motive (if you know what I mean).

Ineedsomesleep....I will mainly be wearing a maternity wrap dress to my wedding tomorrow . It's black and again, will be worn with red shoes/jewellery and black and red hat but I think it disguises my post natal flabby stomach better than anything else. I'm definitely going to find a room to go and feed in as I don't want to be waving my massive leaky norks about at this lovely wedding where I barely know anyone !!

Following on from the tea strainer trick - just let me know if anyone's baby has nappy rash. Have a corker to solve that little problem !!!!

Anyway, sounds to me like everyone here deserves a big old pat on the back for doing so well. Cheers to all you lovely, clever mummies !!

Happy weddings ladies.

My massive leaky norks had a little outing today to a cafe where dp chose the table to sit which afforded the best view for everyone in the queue to observe my superb bf technique. So thats me immune from any further embarrasment.

GillL, dont underestimate the sleep. You didn't chose to have a crappy time with breast feeding.

Itchy, condoms, eventually, though I have mentioned the snip to dp who quickly changed the subject.

morning - i'm having breakfast in bed just now - cappuchino and some brioche mmmmm. DP is looking after DD1 who sounds like she's running riot and DD2 is sound asleep.

Itchy - it's very common here for people (especially the older generation) to see a new baby and put money in the pram for luck. i think it used to be silver that was put in but now it's pound coins or notes (DD2 made 10pounds at the weekend when we were in dumfries!!).

i forgot how people like to have a wee look - both my DC's have had/got a real head of hair (see photo's) and that's the main comments we get even from the men who shout their wife over to 'look at the heid o'hair on this wean'.

can't believe some of you are already talking about the next one!! if i had my way DP would be off to get his bit snipped! though like boobooma's he changed the subject quickly.

have a good weekend everyone and for those going to weddings enjoy them.

LO has got a cold. Has anybody got any tips please?

Spent hours clearing out the loft of old rubbish today. I found some 0-3 boys clothes that my sister gave me a few years ago, so it was well worth it. We've been given so much that I don't think we'll have to buy a lot, if anything.

Go on TT - Tell us just in case. Hope you had a good time at the wedding. Did your lo behave himself? I bet he had lots of admirers.

I'm very jealous of your breakfast in bed my2weegirls! Both my 2 had/have loads of hair. It's a pain when they're sick when laying down (both of mine very sicky), especially when you've just got them out of the bath - that's ds's trick. My sister can't believe that I want more than 2 children but I've always wanted a big family. People are always surprised when I say that this one isn't the last.

Ineedsomesleep - you could try snufflebabe. It's like Vicks vapourub but not as strong. Might be worth checking if you can use Karvol with a small baby.

Hello folks, its boobooma, thought I'd update my name, so here I am. Also put some pics on profile of ds and dd & me.

Ineedsomesleep, I'm pretty sure we used karvol with ds when he was v small, not 100% sure though, ask the pharmacist.

I am gobsmacked everytime I change ds as he seems like a giant compared to 2 week old dd. He keeps trying to give his lego to his sis, aaah. And he said her name today.

Hi all

All going well here. I will join Gill and say We are definitely having another too I now want a big family too, 2 boys and 2 girls would be my dream. Not sure if I got one of each though if i would have stopped then, but do think it's nice for them to have a same sex sibling.
My dh has been bringing me toast in bed each morning, which is nice as i'm forever feeding in bed.

I haven't done much b/f in public as mine are like firehydrants, (scared I'll spray someone) but the car seems to work well.

LL is one month today, i think a few of us share the 16th so happy one month

ineedsomesleep - a tip that was given to us was to run the hot tap/shower in the bathroom to create some steam and sit with LO for about 10min. the steam helps to clear their nose before a feed. if you can then up the number of feeds so that they are getting plenty of liquids. karvol on a tissue near their bed.

Thanks everyone for your advice on the cold. Both DS & LO had it so needless to say, I didn't make it to the wedding.

We had baby balsalm and karvol in, but both said from 3 months so ended up at 3 am poking a bit of wet tissue up her nose to make her sneeze. Poor DD couldn't feed as her nose was so stuffed up. Hope you had better luck with your wedding TT.

Hello all,

Sorry to have been a complete stranger but 5 days after coming home I was rushed into hospital by ambulance after I got an infection and my section scar re-opened and burst a huge amount of blood and puss all over the bathroom - sorry I know TMI.

I had to spend 6 days in hospital and had IV anti biotics for 5 days and another surgery to re-suture the hole that opened up. orst thig was I was seperated from the baby as she wasn't allowed to stay with me as thay didn't know if it wa MRSA - it wasn't. Am now home but feeling a bit wiped out and am having 2 hr afternoon naps. Luckily my mum stayed on and has been running the house and doing all my washing and ironing etc - am scared that when she goes home on Tuesday that the house will degenerate into filth and we'll have no clean clothes !

Cait is doing well and putting on weight - unlike her Mum. I weighed myself yesterday and have lost 35lbs since the day before my ellective section (which you'll remember was cancelled). The only good thing about all of this is that I am back in my jeans within 2 weeks of her being born !

Does anyone have any good cure for constipation as poor Caitlin is suffereing desparately?

Oh my God. Hersetta, you poor, poor thing. What an awful thing to happen. Hope you're feeling better soon and you're being well looked after for a good time. You sound v brave about it all. I'd try and get your mum to stay on for a while if she can to help you out...

Hope everyone else is doing well/surviving! x