October 2007 - the golden piglets have landed

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I couldn't find a postnatal thread - not sure if I am just missing it with post-childbirth brain! Anyone else around??

Inzi I have heard they shouldn't be in them for more than 2-3 hours. But for most babies this isn't an issue to prevent you taking them out for the day in them since they will need to feed frequently enough to not exced this time. If she doesn't you could always take her out after 3 hours - I think I was told that they should be out for 15 mins before you put them back - then the 2-3 hours starts again... Know I'm too late with this answer today but hope it will help for the future!

Well I've had a lovely day today. Adam gave me a lie in till 10 after waking for a feed about 6.30. Then we got up and went out to a cafe for lunch - he slept in his hugabub so I was able to sit and read for an hour which was lovely. Then headed home to meet Choc, Rebecca and her dh who came over to test Adam's swing. It seemed to help her sleep so I think that was a success! Then dh, Sam, Adam and I headed out to pizza express for tea. Sam seemed a bit shattered though so we left a bit earlier than usual but both boys now in bed. Adam is making a bit of noise so may well have to go back to settle him but all very relaxing for now!

Hope you are all having a nice evening and have a good night! x

Hi all

Inzi - Rebecca likes her carseat too. I have no idea on the guidance though!

Anya, I read the Baby Whisperer but don't seem to have used it - I'm just winging it trying to get DD to sleep to be honest... But she isn't a month old yet so I feel this is fair enough for now.

I went to the dentist this morning; I have a gum infection and have antibiotics for it but will need root canal early Jan. Woe but I knew it was coming... I also managed to express 100ml of milk and greedy guzzler Rebecca necked it all a while ago. She was very good for my parents this morning.

Thank you very much for having us round Alice and for tea and cake. The swing was definitely a success! We've been on the Internet researching swings - there's quite a choice - yours Alice seems to be unavailable now but Fisher Price make equivalents. It's just deciding whether to go portable or not... I think we might hit Toysrus tomorrow as they seem to have the most in their Babiesrus bit. I remember going to that Toysrus when it first opened when I was a kid and being excited. We've gone full circle!!

I'm happy it's the weekend! It's nice to be not just me and baby. I might even get to have a long shower without knowing that Rebecca's on her own! Blooming thank you cards await me though... I'm losing track now...

Have a good evening all - I'm off for some chocolate...

Hi all, Choc - sorry about your gum infection. I think that you are bf - be careful about getting thrush on nipples or in milk ducts when on antibiotics. Happened to me and is an absolute nightmare to clear. Apparently you can work at prevention by taking an acidophillus supplement to keep the bacteria that you need in your gut ( antibiotics kill all the "good" bacteria as well as the "bad" ones and thus thrush develops) Also don't eat too many sweet things as the yeast infection thrives on sugar.( very hard !!!) I don't mean to scare you, but it's precautionary. There are lots of threads on here about it and the Breastfeeding Network site has fantastic information.
Hope your gum infection clears up soon.
Also - all those wanting slings similar to hugabub/ calin bleu but think they cost too much, go to www.bigmamaslings.co.uk and there are links to sites telling you how to make your own sling - including some that involve no sewing at all.

HI all,

Need a bit if advice re Henry's eating habits atm...

I have been b/f since day 1. He latches on fine, we've had no problems at all (sorry to those who have, not bragging!) now my boobs are a little sore to the touch -wouldn't want to lay on my tummy- even after a feed. Henry fed loads yesterday evening, every 2 hrs (I have started giving him both breasts to see if that helps) and still took 6oz at 10.30pm. He's 5 weeks monday and 12lb 2oz.
I have fed him every 3 hrs today and woken him when I needed too, I fed at 5 (both breasts) 7 (both breasts) for 40 mins!! and then he had 1 1/2 ozs of formula as dh was convinced he was hungry.
I read in 'what to expect when you're b/f...' and she pointed out a baby's white tongue -Henry has always had a white tongue -that if you could rub the whiteness off it was fine but if you can't then it's thrush...painful boobs also a sign.

What do you all think? Any advice??

Hi all ... just popping in ...

muppetgirl - if Henry is looking good, having plenty of wet nappies, then there's not a problem - unless there's a problem for you ... I have found that my nips are only just getting used to the feeding feeding feeding lark (M is 9 1/2 weeks old now).

He is obviously thriving (with his wonderful weight gain) - but if it's not suiting you, prhaps you need to talk to a bf counsellor ...

which neatly brings me on to ...

I went to a meeting of the local branch of La Leche League this morning - I wanted to meet other bf mums (M is still exclusively bf) to reassure me that I'm doing ok ... I'm having problems feeding M sitting upright and wanted some help with positioning. It was lovely - some of the mums were quite a bit more "hippyish" than me - although I'm convinced I'm turning into an old hippy myself - I get worked up about women's rights in antenatal care (as you all know), and am also quite an "out-there" breastfeeder...

You can find out where your local branch is here(muppetgirl, I think there's a branch in Upavon which may be your nearest branch ...)

DS is going to stay with the PILs this weekend - I just hope they don't start hand-wringing in front of him - we haven't told him that C has died, he's too young to really understand. We're taking him back, and we're going to see C's partner (confusingly, also name beginning with C) - she hasn't met Mairwen yet, as the day we went back to Llandeilo to see him, she had taken their oldest son (who, at 17 has had to take over running the family farm ) to the dairy show .. and we missed them. It'll be lovely to see them, a bit awkward, but hopefully the presence of DS and DD will help break the ice a bit.

Right, off to bed now (after expressing) ... I'm just going to whisper this bit ... M has slept through for 2 of the last 3 nights from 11 - 7 - last night she slept from 11 - 5.30 - I don't know myself! Long may it continue ... (ejt stops whispering, and wanders away to find a breastpump!)

Yes, I know I said "just quickly" at the start of this post - but since when have I been succinct?

Have a good weekend all.

muppet, you sound like you may have increased your milk production to meet Henry's demand and in doing so got slightly engorged - this can lead to blocked ducts which would explain the tenderness (this happened to me a lot with DS). are there red marks on your breasts? hot compresses and chilled savoy cabbage leaves worked for me.

hope everyone else is ok - we're very up and down here, good days and bad - most of the difficult bits are with DS actually, he's had a fragile few weeks (and there was me thinking we'd got away with it!)

has anyone had any luck with putting their LO's down for naps when they're still asleep?? just can't remember how I used to get DS to nap in his cot! any reminders appreciated.thanks and hope you all get a good night. have to say I'm very [envy} at those getting more than 2 hrs sleep at a time!

Morning. Dareh started to stir at six this morning. I jumped up to get myself ready before he started screaming and he has gone back to sleep! Gutting! I can't wait until I can just breast feed without faffing about with stupid dressings on my boob.

Hijack - Stefka - just thought I would see how you are getting on!! Go to grips with the pram yet?

Hi! Yes thank you! It's a great pram actually. It took me a couple of trips to get the hang of it but I feel pretty confident with it now and I really like how easy it is to use. Hope you are well!

Morning all!

Henry did hid first full night in his bedroom in his crib by himself.

Well Henry slept from 9 (after the 1 1/2 f/f and 40 mins 2 breasted mamouth feed)
till 1 and then till half 5 (after a breast and a half)
Would have slept till half eight but I heard a squeak down the monitor and also heard his music and wondered how he's managed to turn that on

I found Oliver in Henry's room with the light on playing with his (few) toys. ARRRGGGGGGGGG that bloody child!!!!!!!!!

Thanks for the advice re Henry's feeding ejt and nellie. My nips aren't sore at all, more that it's my boobs themselves so it does sound like milk my ducts are slightly blocked by the sudden increase in demand. Do you feed from both breasts at a sitting? I never used to but he still seemed hungry after a feed and now I do. I went to a b/f group last mon (nct breast feeding counsellor) and will go again this mon. Thanks for the LLL link ejt - is this a group for exclusive b/f or will they not frown on my 1 bottle of f/f a day? -The nct lady wasn't that happy with me when I mentioned it.

Well, It's raining here so we're going to decorate the christmas trees (we've 2) and then go and tackle the shops for the last bit of shopping.

Have a good day all

Stefka -how have you been the last couple of days?

x

It's just up and down as usual. I get some feeds on my right side that don't hurt but every time I think I have it sussed it starts to hurt again and I have no idea why. My left side is always sore. It's so depressing.

I lol at the thought of Henry getting up to turn his music on! Good on him for sleeping in his crib on his own!

Oh Dareh is crying!

Ejt nice one about M's sleep!

Muppet great that Henry managed in his room too despite Ollie's best efforts!

Nellie - I haven't tried Adam in his own room yetbut we get him into his moses basket when asleep by putting a hot water bottle in there first so that he isn't woken up by the cold after the warmth of my arms. Seems to work mostly although he has started to be happy to be put down awake.

Stefka - sounds like things are getting better? Fingers crossed

Well last night my little boy also slept from after his feed at 11 till 6.20!!! Not counting my chickens as the last 2 times he had decent sleeps (both previously from 7 though so not as great for us) he followed it up with a couple of atrocious ones! Plus although that sounds great I was still having to do a fair bit of putting his dummy back in to keep him there. Still hopefully it gets him into not needing a feed in the night and if he can settle himself off to sleep he will learn to not need this! Fingers crossed!

This am we have been to ikea and Sam was doing full on tantrums flinging himself on the floor when dh wouldn't pick him up. Not really like him and he's been a bit grizzly today too so hope he's OK.... Both boys asleep now though so all good!

And we have some friends over who we haven't seen for a while this pm so looking forward to that... Catch you later!

And ejt thanks for the amusing mail the other day - made me laugh! And hope visit to C's partner goes OK...

I have to do the same alice - keep plugging that dummy back in until he sleeps. It can take about an hour to do. He's stubborn and doesn't want to go to sleep. Hope you have fun with your friends.

MissB - thought you would appreciate this. DH has had the afternoon off. Guess what he is doing. Yep - he's asleep.

So is Dareh . Why is it whenever my DH is home the baby just sleeps? I am guessing it will mean he will be up all night too.

Hi All
Appologies in advance for what is going to be a me, me, me posting.
It has been a tough week because Alex has been perfecting his projectile vomiting technique...HV said at the beginning of the week that it was probably a bit of an upset tum and runny poo would follow, but it didnt and I found that it I stopped him every 30 secs or so for the first 3-4 mins to wind him he was able to feed to his hearts content after that and kept it all where it belonged and didnt necessitate us both needing a shower after every feed so came to the conclusion that my let down was to fast for him and cholking him....but today he is managing to throw up at the end of a feed and has suddenly developed runny poo so perhaps the hv was right..but he hasnt got a temperature, is well hydrated, weeing lots and still wants to eat a lot despite the fact that it gives him a milk sinus wash out ...so if he is the same tomorrow I'll get him to the drs on monday.

As well as coping with this feeding prob. I had the day from hell yesterday...my own fault...I had entered Thane in the LKA dog show at the NEC because he hasnt been in one since Crufs last March and this was my last chance of qualifying him for Crufts 2008... I didnt realise how tough it would be both emotionally and physically...I was 10 weeks pregnant when I was last at the NEC for Crufts and when I got home that night my Dad had suddenly slipped into a coma and died the next day, and there I was again with my 10 week old baby with Dad not around to enjoy him, it just really reminded me of my loss...if Im going to melt down like that over a dog show, heaven help me over christmas and new year. But physically it was, I decided that to travel on my own with Alex and the dog I'd have to do it between feeds so was showeringdressing and feeding at 5am, set off at 6.30 stopped at sevices at 8 to feed/change and got there for 9.30 only to be directed to a car park miles from the hall were in so had to traips Alex in his pram (thank heavens I took the big warm one) for 30 mins before we got out of the hellish weather. The show itself was ok as my friends were more than willing to look after one or the other of my babies but the journey home was dreadful, hold ups all the way, we left at 3.30 and I stopped at 6 feed a fractious Alex but didnt get home untill 8.30! We were both exhausted but I didnt get to bed until 11pm and DH didnt wake for the 1.30 feed then said he couldnt get Alex to take a bottle at 4.30 so I didnt get much sleep last night either and tonight he is entertaining client so I doubt he'll be of much help tonight either what is more he has arranged for me to go to dinner with his parents in his absence because they have been on holiday and not seen Alex for two weeks...grrr...would I be this cross if I wasnt so sleep deprived?
Got to go to pils now...I'll catch up with you all later if I havent passed out

just a quick post as Z is asleep in my arms and my hand has gone numb!

ejt with regards to the sore boobs, I get this sometimes but I don't have any red bits so I don't think I have blocked ducts it more feels like my boobs have been over worked and are feeling a bit bruised.

FT sorry you had such a horrible day and big hugs to you. I am sure the dog show was hard for you, the first year after loosing someone is really hard but it does get easier and hopefully Christmas wont be as hard as you are expecting it to be, I find it I am prepared for something to be bad it isn't always as bad as I thought it would be. I will be thinking about you

Hello to everyone else, I think you are all doing great especially as its a busy time of year.

Floria sorry you have been having a tough week. I'm sure Christmas will be tough - I remember my Granny saying that the first year after she lost my Gramps was the hardest because you could always go 'this time last year...' Will be thinking of you!

Stefka good luck with the dummy shoving tonight! Now go give your dh a kick up the bum!

Hello Polar and everyone else. I am chilling in front of the telly waiting for the x factor results then I will be in bed. Dh doing the late feed again tonight... Both boys have been a pleasure this pm and I had a great afternoon with my friends. Hope you are all having good weekends too...

Hi all

Once again, a week has flown by, I haven't done half the things I wanted to do and have barely managed to look at MN - oh how life changes with a LO around!

Hope you're all well. I've had a quick skim, but no time to read up properly on what life is throwing at you all at the moment. Big boos to unhelpful husbands though - my first husband was shocked to the core and utterly exhausted when left in charge of our eight month old for the whole day when I went on a work placement many years ago. He was a complete wreck by the end of each day! It's hard to get the message across though, but the 'I'm tired cos I've been to work' line is just the most infuriating thing. Work's a piece of piss compared to caring for a baby all day ... try to get that through to them ... rant, rant ... sorry, it just makes me mad.

Well, not much to report from Apricott-world. Huw is doing well, seems small compared to some of your babies - he's 8 weeks and 10lb 1.5oz - but gorgeous, cooing and smiling lots (not at the moment, though. It's grizzle time). He's sleeping well. Usually does 10ish to 3ish, then back to bed after a feed and sleeps til 7/8ish. We're not complaining!!

Going to try to organise fruit into a bowl today for soaking for Christmas cake - yum! House is total tip too, so might attempt to clear up a bit. Oh, it's all just too exciting ...

Can't believe Leon is through to xfactor final - I can't stand him and his little puppy dog eyes.

Love to all you lovely mummies,

A x

Morning all.

Mu sister in law gave birth yesterday. This is the sister in law who lectured me on breast feeding in my first week even though she had never done it. Of course she had a text book delivery which makes me feel kind of crap because I really wanted a natural birth but had to have pain relief in the end because he was back to back and I was pushing for four hours. I knew it would all be perfect for her though - no doubt the breast feeding will be a piece of piss too and I will be getting more lectures from her about how to do it right. Still delighted for my them and can't wait to see their baby.

Dareh slept well last night but I didn't! I just couldn't get to sleep it was horrible. Luckily Dareh didn't wake till eight so I managed to catch up a bit in the early hours.
DH actually was really good last night - hurah!

Hi all

Floria, lots of hugs to you - Christmas will be tough - at least you have gorgeous Alexander to console you. But don't apologise for me me me posts, we are all going to write them from time to time!

Stefka, ignore your SIL. It doesn't matter how you gave birth, what matters is how you parent your child and you're doing a great job even though masses of pain so just ignore outside opinion. Who cares if someone else managed to save the world while drinking tea while giving birth whilst someone else needed the complete works of pain relief? It really doesn't matter.

Hi Apricott, you sound good! And fruit cake -wow. I'm living on bought biscuits...

Well, we went and tested Alice's swing on Friday and yesterday we bought Rebecca one for Christmas! We went to Mothercare and Mamas and Papas but Mcare only had a portable one in stock and it didn't look very comfy, whilst Mamas and Papas had two different ones, both very stylish looking, but the first sort of rocked a bit rather than swung whilst the second was so stylish it didn't look very child-inspiring. So we went to Babiesrus at Toysrus and got the big Fisherprice Rainforest one, which is green and non tasteful and very exciting - she loves it. It has only sent her to sleep once so far because she's utterly mesmerised and excited in it but it allowed us an hour to have a glass of wine and eat a nice dinner last night with not a murmur from her ladyship so it can't be bad!

Went into town today, had lunch out, then as we came home Rebecca YELLED and cried real tears - usually she just sort of fusses a bit. I think she was hungry, but it came on very suddenly and was quite horrible, really. Anyway she's home now and back on her swing!

Muppet, Rebecca eats like a gannet in the evenings whereas she goes about three hours between bfs during the day. I wonder if Henry is the same?

Ejt, hope the visit went okay. Inzi, how's little teething Jane?

Katsch thanks for the antibiotics/thrush warning. I'm mainlining bioactive yoghurt in case that helps but I'm just unable to give up sugar... fingers crossed...

Hi Polar, Greedy, MissBumpy, everyone else and have a good Sunday!

Hi everyone,

Sorry to rant about me (again!) but now DD is finally starting mend after her horrid cold/infection thing, I've come down with mastitis!!!

It came on really suddenly on Friday night, I just noticed that one breast was really painful. At first I thought it was the rib actually as the pain was closer to my ribcage than the nipple. I ignored it at first thinking that maybe my bra had just been rubbing in a funny way but the pain got worse and worse until it was actually painful to lie down/sit up/wear a bra/hold DD/basically do anything at all. SIL who's a GP rushed me round some antibiotics yesterday. I don't know what I'd do without her as I wouldn't have fancied dealing with a male out-of-hours GP.

Anyway, the antibios seem to be working as I feel a bit better today.

Then, to make things worse, I ended up having big row with DP this morning and telling him I want him to move out Thankfully we've talked things through and he's not going to move out and he's promised to mend his ways but it makes me sad that we always have to reach crisis point before he'll recognise that there's a problem.

Sorry to hear about your gums Choc.

Katsh, that's a good point about the thrush. I'd got some probiotic yoghurt in because I was thinking I could do without getting thrush downstairs but it hadn't even occured to me that I could get thrush on my nipples. Yet another thing I could really do without right now.

Floria, sorry you've been having a hard time. Big hugs.

Stefka, did you get a pram? I got a Silver Cross Pop but haven't used it yet because DD's been too ill to go out. Don't worry about SIL. Everyone's different and it's not a competition. You did a brilliant job. My DD was back to back too so I know just how hard it is to do it pain relief free. The fact that you've persevered with the b/f even though it's been really hard is a great credit to you. Point that out to your SIL if she dares to be smug with you!

Right, my dad's coming to pick me up in a few hours. Me and DD are going to stay with him in Cambridge for a couple of days so I won't be online until Tues or Weds. I hope you all have a good few days. All you ladies who mentioned having sore breasts, keep an eye on it because mastitis really isn't any fun at all!

I have a mama's and papa's pram - I got it because it was the lightest one on the market. I am only 5ft 1" and figured it would be easier to lift in and out of the car.

My SIL is bound to be smug - she already was about BF and she hadn't even done it then. I think I will just have to brace myself. Heading up that way tomorrow to see them. It's an overnight trip so I am very nervous about it Not been away anywhere with Dareh yet.

That swing sounds fab - was it expensive? Maybe Dareh can get one for his Christmas.

So sorry to hear about the Mastitis - so handy having a GP in the family! Take good care of yourself and hope you get better soon.