December 2007 - Santa's come early for some of us...

[Housemum]

Thought I'd start off the new thread as I've never started one before - congratulations to those of you who are on here now - hope I'll be joing you in the not-too-distant future!

Hello all, sorry it has been so long since I have been on here, am finding 3 children quite demanding - I can't believe how much I have forgotten! Have not even attempted to catch up with everyone so apologies to you all for that - hope you and your LO's are all doing well!

DD is doing well and after a colicky few days she has settled down a lot now and seems fairly content! A friend of mine suggested drinking those Actimel Probiotic thingy drinks to help with colic and she seems much better since I started on them!

She is still under MW care as her weight was static at 10 days (in fact she had lost another 1/2 oz putting her at 4 oz under birthweight). It could be because she took her time to pass all the menconium (8-9 days) so hopefully she will have gained tomorrow. MW told me to feed her more often, she usually goes 3.5-4 hours but have tried to feed her more often but she is not interested so have gone back to feeding on demand. Surely she wouldn't be content if she was hungry??? She is also doing really well at night - about 5 hours then a feed then another 5 hours (although last night she went 7 hours so now I am worried she is not getting enough food). Fingers crossed she will have gained weight when she is weighed tomorrow.

She is a really sleepy thing and some days sleeps literally all day. She is definitely getting bigger though and the 0-3 month sleepsuits are starting to get a little short for her already. She is also starting to try and coo and smile which is really lovely! I'm sure the 'experts' would tell me it is wind but it is when she is wide awake and in response to being talked to.

Anyway, will try to keep up a bit now I feel a bit more settled!

Skid just seen this, "and it means I get to stare at him a lot which is lovely because he is so beautiful" `Awwww, that's how I feel too!! [mushy emoticon]

Beckle that's interesting re: the probiotic drinks, I've been taking strong pb supplements (to negate the bad effects of ab's I've been on for mastitis) and so far no colic (though ds only 4 w so there's still time!) There might be something in that!

My friend swore by them Lizzer, her first was really colicky until she started on the drinks. She drank them from day one with her second and third and they had no colic at all!

Lizzer and Skid - Hiya. Am still BF my lo. Am still taking the antibiotics for mastitis but they're doing something good because all the swelling has gone. Still have a lump in my right breast so GP wants me to keep going back until it has gone. I seem to at last after 7 weeks be seeing some light at the end of the tunnel and the bf pain is going. If it wasn't such a gradual process to try to to dry up milk supply I would have given in by now. I've been topping up with formula but I seem to be producing more milk these days so its harder to fit a formula feed in. Having said that, I find a small amount before bedtime helps him sleep longer. It might be something to bear in mind to you ladies who have little ones who just keep waking up all night.

Skid, that pain sounds very familiar. Good for you being stubborn. I hope things work out for you too. Lets hope we both get to the pain free stage soon. 6 and 7 weeks is too long isn't it.

Another rant I'm afraid... had an absolutely awful day yesterday. DD was inconsolable when awake, even DH was losing his patience with her. She seems to have been worse since we started her on this comfort milk. We managed to settle her about 10pm and she did then sleep til 5.30am so can't moan at her for that. Took her to doctor this morning & explained all the symptons (dd was sick whilst we were there, which I was kind of glad about cos it proved I wasn't just some neurotic mother). Doc gave us some Gaviscon Infant to try, thinks she might have reflux (acid coming back up in throat) which could be the cause of her being sick and so unsettled. She also said to go back to the normal milk.So, have just tried her with the first dose. She screamed hysterically for half an hour then did some trumps and has now fallen asleep. Will just have to see how it goes. Back at the doctors on Wed for a review.

Thanks everyone for the advice. skidaddle - we thought it could be lactose intolerance which is why we changed her to this comfort milk (they say it's formulated to break down th lactose or something) but it doesn't seemed to have helped so far suey2 - I think I might try lying her on her side/front in the day. She always seems so much more comfortable when she's sitting up rather than lying on her back. Does anyone use cot blocks? I looked at getting them but we have the Lindam cot and I don't think they'd fit.

Beckle - wow! I hope everyone who's suffering is reading that, would be soo easy if it worked with everyone..

Wizzska - well done you You deserve a medal! Im still topping up with f one feed a day. Its at night but only so dp can give it, not sure if its having that effect though...I hope i start making more milk soon too

HB, Oh that sounds awful poor you. hopefully you've got the right answer now.. Ds sleeps on side night and day, i think you've got to trust your instincts on that one

lizzer/ claraq don't get me wrong, i am not dictatorial about it! just using it as a guideline for how much sleep she should have after having a few difficult nights. I want millie to be adaptable and i have some friends who followed the technique to the letter, but you could never meet them for lunch (nap time, darkened room etc) and it was pretty much a full time commitment to the routine. I really want to be able to travel with her and take her out for meals in the evening whne i am on hols etc. I also find that since i am not being totally strict with the routine, i am learning about what her cries mean and she settles really quickly now i know. I figure that the strict routine means that sure, they dont cry, but you become a slave to their routine. I cuddle her much more than some of the books recommend, but she settles beautifully most of the time and i make sure i put her down regularly when i know her needs have been met.

loucee i still have the nanny which has given me the energy to find all this out! certainly if i let her sleep too much in the day (tempting) the nights when i dont have the nanny are hideous! re abs- do you have a diastasis? if so no sit ups until 1cm max, or at least 6 weeks post section. I am gagging to go for a run, but am forcing myself to wait until then. otherwise suck in and watch you posture partic when upright. pilates ex ok now (planks etc) but start low intensity. bouncing on ball good keeping pelvis neutral.

suey2, i have been trying to follow the other well known routing baby whisperer EASY and she is on a pretty predicatble 3 hour, eat, activity sleep cycle in the day but I have real trouble keeping her awake for any length of time

if i dont let her sleep she seems to get quickly overtired and unsettled.

hmmmmm what to do as i really cant function on such little sleep

today has been

wake at 7.50 after terrible night

back to sleep at 8.30 on school run until 10.30

fed then back to sleep by half 11 slept until 1.45

back to sleep on school run at 2.30 and is still asleep now

is this too much sleep do you think?

she isnt 3 weeks old until thursday - am i expecting too much as she is still so young

i am exclusively breastfeeding and keep considering a late formula feed but not sure that will achieve anything

my other two seemed to be much happier about going into their baskets for sleep so its tough.

also, during the night she doesnt wake for feeds as such its just one long attempt to settle her with lots of snacks, feel this cant be doing much good but how to change things?

any advise would be fab xxx

thanks Suey for your advice. I'll start doing some small pilates exercises then. Yes I do have bad muscle separation - asked the Dr today but he was just crap and said they'll come back together. Can I get referred to physio for this? Wonder if my private health insurance would cover if it not?
My GP was crap today though - he had checked my scar then said "and you've got a scar from another operation"... to which I replied "that's my linea nigra"!!!!!!!!!

Congrats MM, living situation sounds tough though. Hope your dh realises how tough it is for you.

Suey that sounds the best way to do it to me-I'm far too disorganised to follow much of a routine but if I did I'd want to be able to be flexible about it and not too ruled by it-I don't see the point if you can't enjoy yourself! We always had a bedtime routine for dd but like you varied the times a bit from day to day and she has always gone to bed no problem (after 8 weeks or so) and has been really easy to take to restaurants etc. Hopefully ds will be the same...

Beckle that is interesting about the actimel-I was really run down after having dd and dealing with her colic and so started drinking actimel when she was 6 weeks or so-her colic went soon after. Have never made the connection before but maybe that was why.

Pecka no advice I'm afraid, ds is the same and as he usually goes at most 3 hours between feeds I sleep in 1hr stretches. At least I don't have a school run to do though!

Holly, hope things improve soon. DS is also quite sicky/windy and it can be very frustrating at times-hopefully the gaviscon will work for you.

Those with toddlers, have been really lucky with dd until now, she hasnt really been jealous or demanding but is cutting her molars at the moment and having loads of tantrums! Poor thing seems in loads of pain though.

We had xmas the second this weekend as my sister and her boyfriend were in Oz for the real one and are now back-put dd's bed up for her but she was scared of it! Glad we got it early so she has time to get used to it before she actually has to sleep in it! DS was much easier for having other people to share the daytime pacing with over the weekend. Oh and got my first smiles which also make it all so much more worthwhile!

Also tried the double buggy for the first time. Hated it! Felt like I was pushing a train! Also dd kept putting her feet on the front wheel and stopping it from turning (Jane Powertwin is surprisingly badly designed IMO) and ds just screamed cos he wasn't being held. There are times when I'll need to use it but mostly I think I'll stick to the sling/stroller combo!

pecka - I wouldn't worry about your lo sleeping so much at that age. I'm following the EASY routine and also find it difficult to keep dd awake for long periods - and she's 6 weeks old!! I've found that if I try and stop her sleeping in the day then she ends up getting overtired and then won't settle. We have the best nights when she's actually had a decent amount of sleep in the day - just shows! I guess some babies like to sleep more than others.

Beckle, yes it does sound like your little one needs to take more feeds. My DD was really sleepy as well and I was forever trying all the tricks to try and make her wake up for a better feed

Pecka, I don't think you need to worry with them sleeping so much so young. When you're so busy with school runs it's hard to be able to keep baby awake as well!

Clairey, sorry your double isn't much help at the moment, perhaps both will prefer it in a month or so?

i wouldnt worry about her sleeping so uch in day if she wasnt so wakeful at night!!!

good job she is gorge

hi all! sorry, have been away wallowing in despair for a few days...long story re BF which I won't go into here, but basically was told DD was failing to thrive...threatned with re-admittance etc.

had to resort to formula top ups and have been feeding v frequently, thankfully she has picked up

on the plus side she is def smiling now! cooing too.

my calin blue sling arrived but haven't had a chance to play yet

also the force feeding regime has meant any other routine is out the window!

BUT - am to admit this - I DO think we had been missing some hunger cues - since we started feeding more often and in bigger quantities we have very rarely had trouble settling her - when I think back to pacing around, swaddling a thousand times etc I feel so bad cos I think she was just HUNGRY

now if she doesn't settle reasonably quickly (obviously I don't mean instantly) I will always try offering her a breast feed and quite often 10 mins big drinking is all she needs.

Have just skim-read but glad to hear we're all doing well, and reassuring that we're all struggling with things too.

Was struck by this v sensible comment from suey "i make sure i put her down regularly when i know her needs have been met". - we are def trying to do this too.

Hello all, sorry to hear about the BF and colic tribulations. We're still exclusively EBM-fed during the day with formula at 10pm and 3am to encourage longer night sleeping. When my milk supply starts to drop a little I make sure to express more regularly and it picks up again but it is hard sometimes to find the time and energy. Right now my boobs feel quite sore - don't think it is mastitis or thrush, just over-energetic use of the expressing machine!! Expressing is a bit like BF-latch, if you don't get it in the right position, ouch!

We tried to go out for dinner last night. Just to my mums but was a bit of a disaster. Normally she's asleep by 7pm and I put her down for the night, but couldn't get her to settle there so by the time we got home at 9pm she was a screaming wreck. Not helped by the humid heat here ATM - 29 degrees yesterday and still 22 degrees at 9pm. Anyway finally put her down well fed with dummy in her mouth at 10pm and because she was still doing the arm-waving, grunting thing I decided to try sleeping in the spare room.

And the next thing I know I was woken by her at 5.30am!!!

So I think I will def start looking at moving her out of my room into her cot soon if we can get results like that! I don't expect she will do that every night but proves it is possible.

After feeding her then expressing I let her go back to sleep in my bed next to me and she is still aspleep now

Suey - I "kind of" following "that book" last time with DD1 and am trying to do the same with DD2. I haven't read Baby Whisperer but "my" version of the routine sounds a bit more like that - as in make sure to sleep-feed-play-sleep and try to keep to 3 hourly intervals during the day. It does mean a bit of clock watching but can generally be fit around other activities. I am a reasonably organised person - which is just as well as have to fit in the expressing as well.

Am interested in the probiotic thing too. DD is not really colicky but might try anyway. A friend took PBs with her second (both while PG and while exclusively BF) to prevent second getting bad allergies like her first and (maybe a coincidence) but worked for them.

caz - glad to hear dd weigh has picked up and if you figure out how to wear dd on your back in the calin bleu let me know, I need to get it sussed with ds...

pecka - we do EASY - I wake ds up for feeds at the times she says and don't worry about how little he is awake as I know ds1 was a monster sleeper (once his wind/colic settled down) I used to go to baby groups and ask if he slept too much and most mums looked at me as if to say 'f off!' it did used to worry me but this time I'll be enjoying it if it happens again! I think the book said something about baby's getting night and day mixed up, maybe like your lo? I can't remember what the advice was, if I get chance I'll have a look

Hollybobs - hope things get better ds2 is now sleeping on his front, he can trump for britian in that position you have to look at the advice and do what you feel comfortable with

another friend had baby today - a dd she has a ds the same age as my ds1 - thats 7 of us who've had no. 2 and I'm the only one with 2 of same sex - what is that all about??

insy which times do you go with?

There is a bit of a mix of advice across her two books

some including cluster feeding, some not etc etc

I've decided to give the Actimel a go. BTW they are on offer in Tesco, the 12 pack is half price and the smaller packs have a multi buy offer on them as well.
Got together with some of the mums I did my An classes with. There was 8 of us altogether, we've lost touch with one as she and her hsuband moved to Ireland, but of the other 7, 6 of us have had boys and one is still to give birth! So she MUST be having a girl!!

Convinced it's a one off but had a good night last night, 10pm to 4am feed then til 8am, back to sleep and she's still away now! Some sleep really does make a difference, I feel like a different person this morning.

I also had our best night yet - she fed about 8.30/9pm, we were asleep by 10pm then she woke about 2am, took about 10 minutes to feed and was straight back to sleep and then slept until 5am (which unfortunately had to be the start of my day as dd2 up at about 6.15am anyway). I realise this doesn't match others "good nights" but I got about 7 hours sleep with only one short break in the middle and this counts as our first night with only one wake.

So I am very

Long may it last.

She is 6 weeks old today. Is this the turning point?

i am on my own this week as dh is away...coping so far (2 nights down 5 to go) although the dvd player is not happy so am bored as we don't have a tv . and poor old evie is having to be left tp cry more than I would like.

clariq and ambi here is too more nights with lots of sleep!

Morning

awful night here, went to bed hour later than DS (he went at 10.30pm) then he woke at 1.30am, 3am, 5am then due to nappy change that turned into him needing a whole new clothes change he wouldn't settle again til 6.30 then DD got up at 7 and only Mummy would do. Then DH got ready for work but just as I was getting DD ready to go to Childminder he was violently sick so I guess he has the bug I had on Sunday. So I took DD to childminder but OMG my drive and path is like an ice-rink, it was as much as I could do to get to the car without falling over. DH still in bed with bug and DS asleep in moses basket, think I should get some sleep but also think I should go and shovel the ice off the drive as it doesn't look like we'll get any nice weather to defrost the ground.

Clara, and Ambi - yay for your goodnights! You do feel like a totally different person after some sleep, I hope your little ones have found their patterns now.

Ambi and Clara - Glad you had a good night's sleep, it does make all the difference.

Loucee - Sorry you had a bad night. Can you get any rest after you've cleared the drive?

Well Things are just about the same with Ethan. He currently has his last bottle about 10pm and normally goes until 3ish, the feed and change and sleeps again until about 8 so i really cant complain. I always put him down straight down after he's been fed and changed and he normally settles himself back off straight away.
I took him to get weighed this morning for the first time since he was 10 days old, he's now almost 6 weeks.
He was 8lb at birth, 8lb 4oz at ten days, and he's now 11lb 2oz
I was only expecting him to be about 10lb or so.

much better night here

10pm-3.45 then awake til 6 back down til 8

but im confused!!!!

i turned to a bottle for her 10pm feed 50/50 breast milk and formula - she took 3oz and then did this big sleep

was it the formula???

sooooo tempted to keep that up each night but would hate to completely lose my supply