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

[bananabump]

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??????

just looked at your photo's - it was you!! he's gorgeous. and i'll not saying anything about the snoring .

Hi BB & MWG!

Sorry I haven't been around for a couple of days but you all know what its like!

We had an Open Day yesterday for visitors. Went really well, MIL had DS in the morning and DD slept so we got cleaned up pretty quick and then had lots of lovely visitors and pressies in the afternoon.

Wash, your post about DS could have been written about my DS, seems like they are just the same. Is he calming down any yet?

Conker, glad that the feeding is working out for you now but sorry that you had such a bad experience at the start. If I was you, I would put in a complaint. I complained to the Consultant after my partial molar last year over the horrendeous way I was treated and the after care on the ward. The consultant actually thanked me and said its only when people come forward and tell us what we are doing wrong that we can do something about it. He then said he was going to a meeting that afternoon to discuss care on the EPU and would be bringing the matter up.

Also, have you read Babycalming by Caroline Deacon? I read it before having DD and I'm alot more chilled than I was with DS. Its not prescriptive at all. She just tells you why certain things are happening and its all based on research not on some woman's theories.

Sorry about the long post but you have to post when you can don't you

Hi guys,

mum2george, babycalming sounds interesting, (I love selfhelp books) I think we've managed to stay pretty chilled so far with J but I admit to having a bit of a panic in tescos the other day when dp was in the queue with him in the trolley, and I went off to get some jam I'd forgotten, and thought I heard James crying. It was the strangest thing, I dropped the jam (not literally) and ran back to the till where of course James was sleeping peacefully. Felt like a bit of a tit, I mean he's not going to expire if he cries for 30 seconds anyway! and dp is more than capable of soothing him. But you can't help your reactions can you?

I was embarassed earlier, I invited my best friend round for an hour to meet baby, and she turned up with her sister and her boyfriend in tow. Because I thought it was only going to be my best friend, I was in my scabbiest PJ's with hair scraped into a bobble and a gravy splash down my top! My friends are happy for me though, after some encouragement by me they did some terrified cuddling (they held him like he was a ticking bomb lol)

Did anyone else have a tear/episiotomy? I had a 2nd degree tear and about 6 stitches, and they've been fine up until now, sore obviously but nothing more than you'd expect. But now I think they've all come out and the area is killing me! I'm pretty sure it isn't infected, I've been having salt baths, but I would have expected it to be less sore now the stitches are out. Anyone had any experience of this?

Myweegirl and conker...how surreal that you were in the ward together!

emm yes that was me snoring in the bed next to you - I do apologise if it kept you awake. that first night was a bit surreal - I was in the same bed till the Saturday but it was different people in all the other beds every night.

The second night all four babies cried almost the whole night - when we were made to wake up the next morning, we all just sat up and looked at each other and burst out laughing so that broke the ice and we all started chatting which was good.

shame i didnt know it was you or we could have chatted properly.

Not that I can offically post here yet (GRRRRR) but the "open day" sounds like a brilliant idea!! I've been dreading the onslaught of friends (and not so friends) with all their snotty chilren, appearing as I try to feed LO, or get DS off to sleep -but anopen invitation for a specific day and time frame sounds brill (means I wouldn't have to speak to the Not-so-friends as much either......) - hope you are all ok, not too knackered, and getting this feeding lark sorted..
xx Hope to join you soon!

morning - posting when i get the chance! DD1 is off to childminders and DP has had to go into work today (but will be off for the next couple fo weeks). DD1 is great with her wee sister but a bit up and down with her dad and I. I'm more stressed about her than i am about baby. Feel like I'm constantly saying 'carefule', 'don't do that', ' gentle', 'no'. poor thing will be glad of a break from me!

banana - i tore too, though no idea how many stitches i have. it could be that your's are now starting to tighten up and the swelling is going down? are they disolvable stitches? is the midwife still checking them? have you been taking your arnica?

conker - i'm sure i was snoring my head off too.

someones squawking - be back later..

Morning all- Hannah is miraculously asleep and am now debating when i need to wake her up to feed before I have to go and register her birth at 2.30. Dilemma dilemma- As she sometimes takes nearly 2 hours to feed!!
Had major panic this morning when woke up at 6 and realised she hadn't woken since going to sleep at 11! As she is only 3 weeks old that is way too long.
Cue panicked mother thinking she was dehydrated, listless etc etc
Am hoping it's because she was awake from about 6.45pm till 11, feeding/crying constantly and getting herself into a complete and utter state. I think she was just too tired to wake up in the night. I shall set an alarm tonight!
Her feeding is abut of a nightmare. Seems as though she is latching on and sucking OK- it's not hurting. But she feeds, gets bored, wants to feed again etc.
Went to baby clinic yesterdaya nd she is putting on weight and is otherwise OK so HV said just to be patient as she was early and small.
She said to feed her every 3 hours. Quite hard to do if a feed lasts for 2!
Anyway- sorry am rambling! Will hit the breastfeeding club next week and maybe phone the helpline.
Anyone else feeling as though they are feeding constantly?

GrowingBP, the mw I had when we had DS gave me the idea about the open house. She was coming in every day as DS had jaundice and could see that we were being driven mad with phone calls and visits. This time when we sent out the birth announcement emails and texts we invited everyone to come between 2 and 5 on Sunday and its worked a treat. Some people couldn't make it so we will still have a few visits to come but its been so much more chilled and relaxing than last time!

Banana, I tore last time, have you tried putting a bit of lavendar oil or tea tree in your bath. And yes, it is natural to panic, after all we are programmed to look after the little mites but I do think that book has helped me to relax.

Jem, its early days and there is nothing unusal about a newborn taking 2 hours with a feed, she would probably be the same on a bottle. I'm trying to wake up DD every 3 hours for a feed as she seems more content at night if I do, but am having the exactly the same problems as you some days. She also slept from 11 to 5 one night. I did have a bit of a panic when we woke up but really, I knew that she had had enough during the day and we are certainly having enough wet & dirty nappies not to worry. If DD is falling asleep on the breast have you tried putting her down or changing her nappy to wake her up and then feeding her again?

Just realised that I should be posting here now

It's hard to find the time to sit down and catch up. Nell is so far proving to be a really easy baby, but I'm so aware that could change. The biggest worries I have are that she doesn't like to spend the night in her Moses basket - though she's fine in the pram in the day - so I've been taking her into bed with me where we both get a good night's sleep. But setting her up for bad habits and all...? You're doing the same Banana? And they are so cute all snuggled up close.

Also, I think she gets bad wind in the evening, possibly as they put her on antibiotics from birth. She cries and wriggles her legs up. Any tips?

Will post some pics soon!

banana - i had an episiotomy - dont know what kind but was certainly very swollen for days and then it started feeling sorer rather than better. hadnt had it checked so was convinced i'd got some sort of infection in it or something, but the midwife checked them before i was discharged on sat, and then got them checked on monday and both times they said they were fine.

I finally had the guts to have a look down there with a mirror yesterday as have been too nervous to before then. It certainly looks different. and to me, the tear didnt look entirely closed up so again like you am unconvinced that the stitches have held. think i will get the midwife to check them on friday when its her last check just to be on the safe side, and keep taking the ibuprofen in the mean time.

struan did really well last night - feeds at roughly 12, 3.30 - 4 and then again at 7.30 - 8 so meant dh and i got some sleep for a change so feel much less teary this morning.

Anyone else bursting into tears at the smallest things? DH is off to Zambia in 2 weeks time so think that is my main source of the tears, but also had a mole checked on my foot this week and have to go for further tests on it so thats in the back of my head too. that mixed with the never being sure when you will get to sleep next is making me very teary. but hopefully today will be better with the longer sleep.

sorry another long post - but as someone else said - got to get it all down at once while you have the time.

morning - looks like there's been a couple of new arrivals over on the antenatal thread.

hope you are all well.

Banana - hope that the jaundice settles soon

Conker - i've been a bit teary the past couple of days too - sleep deprivation/hormones/birth process will all contribute to it. DP gave me a cuddle yesterday and that started me off . i can't imagine how you'll feel with DH going away (or how he'll feel).

i've just had to put the heating on - it's ridiculous, middle of august - where's summer?

Morning, how is everyone and there little ones getting on?
I?m waiting for the HV to turn up and weigh my little man, he was 7il 2 oz last Thursday.
Dp has gone back to work now, this week has been quite tiring. I?m very lucky Vinnie is a very good baby (so far), it?s his 2 big sisters that are the hard ones, dd2 is only 2 and has been getting upset when i bfeed, she keeps having little accidents on the floor. I can?t blame her though, it must be very hard for her to understand, i have now started giving her and Vinnie a bottle and cuddling them both, she seems a bit happier 2 day.
Conker i'v also been teary the past week, it is very normal what with the hormones and lack of sleep, dd1 had me in tears the other day, she asked why i don?t play with her any more, glad you got some sleep though!

Conker, I can remember with DS that awful feeling of not knowing when you will next sleep. I think it made the sleep deprivation 10 times worse. It will pass though and things will get better.

On a different note, I went to the lingerie shop in the village to get measured and I'm 32D! Hooray! Have told DH to make the most of it before I return to my usual A cup

How has everyone's night gone?

morning all - had a strangely good night last night - fed at 9.45, 2.30 - 3.00 and then 5.40 - 6.00 so got more sleep than usual.

Have been rushing about a wee bit the last few days - my sister purplerabbit had her little boy yesterday so we were down visiting her the day before and yesterday, and so have decided to have an at home day today (have to wait in for the midwife this afternoon anyway). plan to watch films and fall asleep on the sofa whenever Struan sleeps and really try and relax.

my mum is down looking after purplerabbits ds while she is in hospital so my dad will be down tomorrow to see him too - so another busy day - which is great -its a very exciting time in the family with two new babies, but just need to remember to have some time to relax too (and that things now take twice as long as you have to factor in feeding time etc).

doctor phoned me to say i was very anaemic as well and that the hospital should have prescribed iron pills before i was discharged so he gave me a prescription for 2 months supply - hopefully that will help a bit too.

Anyway, hope you all have good days with your babies.

Hi ladies!

Hope every one is fine and well, how are the new babe's getting on and the new mum's?

Sorry I haven't been on been alittle busy with 3DC still gets me (3) LOL, I've had 2 days were it's just been Connie and I which has been nice, but also trying to catch up on sleep which isn't working out. DH has gone back to work, thank god, as he doesn't like staying in so ever since DD ( DD) was born we had been out most days which has driven me mad on the inside but I've just grinned and bared it IYSWIM you cant rest and so on when your out and about (at MIL's house), you feel like sh!t, tiredness, self-con about the way you look I.E. belly, bleeding and so on, aches and pains, hormonal, you cant put your feet up at some one else's house can you?!, and every one trying to nick your baby off you , so it came as a relief that DH went back to work. MW came today for that last time Connie now is 9lb 7oz bless, right little fat thing , feeding 5oz's every 3 hours, I cant believe you only get 3 visits from your MW after the birth now, with DS's I had alot move visit's but oh well! Still very teary and i dont know why I'm sure i'll get there, each day as it comes and all that . I've just realized that I hadn't been taking my iron tabs since the birth, I'll get right on it, due to still feel dizzy and headache's are driving me mad, and painkillers aren't tuching it!

Babymadxx

midwife just been and weighed ds again - he has put on 8oz in the last 2 days so is now 4oz over his birth weight which is great - its great to know he is feeding well after the slow start. sounds likes lots of people have popped in the last few days so should be getting busier on here soon.

Hi guys - I'm having probs with Nell and sick through the nose. I've just posted the below on parenting, but wondering if any of you have experienced the same. It's making me a nervous wreck after feeding!

Hi - my 13 day newborn has scared the bejesus out of me twice in the last two days. About 20 mins after a feed she's vomited massive amounts through her nose and mouth, then turned red and screamed the place down - seemingly finding it impossible to breathe. She eventually catches her breath and calms down, but it's really, really scary and I'm now worried about putting her down in case it happens again. She seems really distressed by it.

Any ideas why it's coming up through her nose and what I can do?

Oops. She's actually only 11 days.. Getting ahead of myself

Hi, I've been lurking on here as I'm being nosey but still can't join in!

Annie - my DS had this for about the first 3 months - does the sick shoot really far (i.e. over a few metres?). I think it's term reflux. I got a few tips from the Baby whisperer website. I used hold DS upright over my shoulder for 30 - 45 minutes after a feed. I put a rolled up towel under his matress so that his head was higher than his body. Mention it to your midwife, although mine wasn't too concerned as he was still putting on weight. In really bad cases they can give junior gavescon (you thought you had escaped it!).

It is really scarey to begin with then it just gets annoying! Make sure you've always got lots of those muslins on hand!

Hopefully be joining you properly soon - the antenatal thread is getting to be very quiet!

hi annie - DD1 was prone to bring lots back up after a feed and with the new arrival we are doing lots of the same things we did with DD1 just in case - which are....

• keep upright and not lying flat for at least 20-30 min after a feed (hard work during the night)
• feed small amount then burp and so on (easier said than done if you've a hungry baby!)
• burp in an upright position (over the shoulder) and by rubbing the back in an anticlockwise position rather than patting
• on back to sleep
• head raised higher - moses basket stand is currently propped up on yellow pages and the phone book
• lots of clean sleepsuits/blankets/sheets (pillows cases are good for moses baskets in case you run out

if you've got any concerns though i would check with GP.

they know how to keep us on our toes!

Thanks, My2weegirls and Ioler. All sensible advice which we'll try and follow. The sitting upright in the night to burp is hard - but I'm so paranoid now after each feed that I'd try anything.

Good to know too that I'm not on my own... It's just awful to see them in distress.

Haven't really read up on thread, time is short , so hi to all - sorry if I miss anything.
Sorry to hear you've had a stressful first couple of weeks babymad - I think I can relate - having 3dc keeping me firmly on my toes - roll on nursery in the morning! - for ds1 anyway.
Had a bit of a naff week so far myself. - Sorry if I ramble lots.
My ds2 decided to turn up on the most inconvienient day possible - my nephew's birthday.
My sis is fuming! - upset that her only child has to share a birthday with him! Not a single word of congratulations from her just a string of strange texts and messages from people having spoken to her in tears!
Have since seen her and all is being ignored as though it's all ok - which is prob best - no arguments that way.
Except that I've spent the last 5 days in tears - mostly due to the stress and worry of it all!
Whilst we were in ds2 suffered from low blood sugar, low temp, and jaundice, so I've had a lot of stress dealing with all that, then on top of it all I wasn't producing nearly enough milk, so he wouldn't settle, and the mw's made me express each time to increase flow - even at 4am! I just sat in the hospital bed - by myself with an unsettled baby and cried. I've never felt so lonely in my life!
Since then had nothing but grief from lack of milk, terrible wind one evening, visitors just turning up whenever they feel like it - upsetting feeding times, horrendously behaved dd, dh not supporting me like I need him to and not being able to chat and confide in anyone else.
So very low at moment I'm dreading dh going back to work.

Sorry for long emotional ramble, shall let you all get back to enjoying your babies.

Aw, big hug to you, Trinaj. Your sis is being plain ridiculous and you should feel able to tell her so. You need gentleness and lots of help right now. I spent way more time than I intended in hospital and that alone is enough to make you feel as though you're losing it. You're not alone - these first few weeks are really tough x

big cuddles trina - it will get better over time..try and get as much rest as you can. though very difficult with other DC's around. my DD1 has really been acting up and her behaviouris awful so i can really sympathise with you there. your sister sounds way out of order - you can't help the day that LO arrives.

oops need to go baby's waking up

Morning all, how was ur weekends?

Annie75, my little one did this a couple times about a week ago, he?s not done it since, its normal and nothing to worry about just very annoying, do tell your m/w or hv though, they will be able to reassure you.

Trina Your sis really is being ridiculous, why is it even that bad? And it really isn?t your fault, so try not to worry. my dp went back to work last week and the first few days were really hard, we are getting in 2 a bit of a routine now, dd1 and dd2 are getting used to having a little brother, dd2 got very upset at not being the baby anymore. It dose get better honest!

Well my little man is doing well; he weighed 7lb 12 oz last Thursday, which is great news as he lost almost 10% of his birth weight to start with. He is having formula top ups now as I was breast feeding him for an hour every 2 hours! And with dp back at work my dds were getting very left out. Feeling v sad as i know this means the start of the end of b/f