Oct 07 - this little piggy stayed at home...

[Dalrymps]

Hey guys sorry for the sh*t title, if there's already been a new thread set up please direct me there???

hi all ... have been to the Haven in Penarth for a hot stone massage this morning - my Christmas pressie from dh - it was absolute bliss!

muppetgirl - could Henry be having a growth spurt? That would account for the cluster feeding, as he'll be feeding more often to increase your supply.
Rhydian was put onto a strict routine (a sort of more flexible gf routine) from 4 weeks - he was exclusively bf until about 10 weeks, then he started having ff in the night, until we stopped feeding him in the night ... not that it helped him sleep through - he didn't really sleep through consistently until he was 3!
Mairwen is completely bf on demand - and as her reflux is so bad, she eats little and often ... but she is sleeping better at night than Rhydian did at this age. I've tried to put her onto the same routine as Rhydian was on, but she's not having any of it! The reflux has a lot to do with it, as she tends to wake up in pain during the day ... think I may need to go back and get some stronger medication for her!

As for conception dates, Mairwen was conceived around 10th January (or that's when I ov. anyway) - which is a date engraved on my heart, as it was also the 1st anniversary of my 1st mc ... it felt really odd to be actively trying for another baby on such a sad day ... however, it now means that that date is not such a sad one ...

Can't remember who asked about dream feeds - dh feeds Mairwen (or attempts to) - but it tends not to be a dream feed as such, as she always wakes up - she really doesn't like the bottle! He changes her nappy as she's awake (we're using disposables at night - one reason, I think why Mairwen sleeps better!), but on the odd occasion he hasn't been able to, it's not really an issue!

Count me in for coming to meet up in Ledbury too - mum and dad used to keep their caravan there, so I've been there quite often! ... not too far to drive from me ...

Right going to give dh a cuddle - he's back in work tomorrow - he's found the past 2 weeks a revelation!

ellensmelons there is a book that tells you how you try and choose the sex of your baby in a bit more detail - I did have it but have given it to a friend or I would send it to you. If you start a thread asking about it in pregnancy someone will tell you - its by Hazel someone I think? Thats how I found out!

muppet I have a friend who has a 12 week old ds who is a similar weight to Henry - he is exclusively bf and sleeps through. So it can be done! I was going to say the same as ejt - it might be a growth spurt? Also we have very succesfully used a dummy with Adam to stretch out his feeds - don't know what you feel about this or if Henry would take one (Sam wouldn't have any of it) but might be worth a try.

Ejt your hot stone massage sounds like heaven and certainly compares favourably to my trip to the station to see the trains!!!

Muppet and ejt it would be lovely to meet up with you both and anyone else who is up for it. Ledbury would be great for me but I'm equally happy to drive nearer to both of you if thats easier? Don't mind. I will get there the evening on Mon 17th March, its my Mum's birthday on 18th so we're busy then and will be doing stuff with her family at some point later in the week. I'll try and find out what they have planned already nearer the time but there will be plenty of free time among that so be lovely to see you both!

Baby brain has now forgotton what everyone else said so off to grab a look...

Oh yes, polar was asking about dream feeds!

Dh does these. We get Adam up at 11 - sometimes he wakes but if he doesn't we don't wake him unless he has less than 3oz of milk as then he just wakes again too soon for it to be beneficial. He usually has anything between 2 and a half and 4 and a half oz's of milk. We don't change his nappy unless we can smell poo (which hasn't happened yet!).

I tend to change him when he wakes between 3 and 4 (last night at nearly 5 - yippee!!) as he is usually pretty awake then anyway although there have been a couple of nights when I didn't bother as he was really sleepy and it seemed a shame to wake him. I agree with muppet that nappies are made to withstand a lot. I was advised by someone last time to use the size up in nappies for night to take the extra - we haven't done this with Adam yet but do with Sam.

Hope that helps!

Oh and meant to say muppet don't worry about not knowing where Ledbury is - I didn't myself until my parents moved there last summer!!!!

And ellensmelons its lovely to hear you talking so positively about being a mum. Just how I felt with Sam - I had always been a bit concerned I would find it dull and tedious as I had always been a big career girl. INstead I fell in love not only with my little boy but also with being his mum. Now I still enjoy my job - went through a phase of wishing I could stay at home but that passed after a few months. But its now my job rather than such a massive part of my life. Lucky to be able to do 3 days a week though - that works really well for me.

Well we had a fun morning going to see the trains at the station!!! I asked Sam what he wanted to do not entirely sure I would get a sensible answer (usually you just get out! out!) but he said train so off we went! It involves a trip on the metro too so double the train fun! Both boys have been lovely this morning making me feel silly to be so worried about coping on my own. Sure they will create merry hell this pm now I said that but never mind! Anyway see you later...

Just when you think you have it all sussed they change the goalposts again don't they Since Ben has been sleeping 12 hours overnight, he now feeds every 3 hours in the day, whereas it used to be 4-5 hours. Also he had been having 7/8oz bottles, that has now dropped back down to about 5oz's the past couple of days, he must be settling down for a bit. Am getting him weighed tomorrow so will see how he is doing. I'm hoping to finally get his skin sorted too, I have had 3 different kinds of cream now, but his skin is still very red and dry on his arms legs and chest, in fact everywhere apart from his back and bum which I find a little strange, so it can't be anything to do with the detergent I wash is clothes in

Well I have cracked the getting up in the night with Ben, but now Sam has started waking up again wanting a wee. I put him in a nappy but since he has started doing his wees on the potty he refuses to do it in his nappy now, so he was awake at 1am and 5.30 this morning shouting that he wanted a wee. I couldn't get back to sleep after the 5.30 wake up as my cold has decided to come back full force again. I feel lousy today, my nose is streaming, my face aches and I keep sneezing 12th day of it now Oh well, I'll make myself keep going and continue sorting out the cupboards now I have had a little break

Is it Ledbury... Malvern? If so that is approx 90 miles from me, so if dates and times suit I may be able to make a meet up

Hey all - I have fallen behind with the messages here. Dareh has decided he doesn't go to sleep before 3am now. Apart from the odd ten minute doze he was awake from 8pm when I tried to put him to bed until 3. He woke up at six but I managed to get him to go back to sleep until eight. I need to get him to go to sleep earlier as I am exhausted but I don't know how. I tried everything - swaddling, mobile, boob, story, rocking - everytime he gets put down he starts to cry.

ejt Mairwen is on Gaviscon isn't she? If she is still having problems you might want to ask about carobel, its a thickening agent so makes it much harder for them to bring their food back up. Gaviscon did nothing for Zoe but the carobel has worked wonders.

Thanks for all the tips on dream feeds I don't do it often as I dont think it works that well for us but looking at all options for a nights sleep every night

Mrs Fish hope you are feeling better soon, a cold can really make you feel miserable and drain all your energy

Stefka have you tried a dummy? I know not everyone likes dummies I am very anti dummies but we have given Zoe one because she was waking every time we put her down and it has really helped with that, hope you get Dareh sorted soon I am sure you are wrecked

Hi all,

Thanks for the advice re Henry and his ever feeding frenzy...

I've tried a dummy but he just spits it out -Oliver LOVED his -maybe that's why he slept so well? He could suck on the dummy for a bit and get himself back to sleep.
I've tried to be stricker today and he fed at 8.15am/12.15pm/2pm. The 12.15pm was a bottle in which he took 5ozs. At the 2pm I 'boobed' him and then offered formula as a top up in which he 1 1/2 ozs. He had a 35 min sleep this morning in the kitchen from 10-10.35. I really want him in his bed for his nap but I missed him drifting off and when I turned round he was in his chair fast asleep! I just turned all the lights off and made Ollie play upstairs so H could sleep. He's asleep now on the sofa as we've just come in from the car. I will try not to feed him till 5 and then 7 then bottle before bed at 8. I thought if I help him cluster feed in the evening this might help?

It's good to know Alice that someone knows someone who has a bf baby that sleeps through. My friend has a 5 1/2 month old that only sleeps 3 hrs solid and has never gone longer and my other bf friend (also a MW) has a 7 month old who has only just started sleeping through. I really thought 'oh good God, I can't do this for another * months.'

I do know that even if I switch to f/f he still may not sleep any longer it's just that at least DH can help a bit more.

Ejt on your hot stones session x

Glad everyone had good new year's. Here's to a wonderful first full year with our lo's. And well done to us all for getting past the first 3 months with our sanity intact - is it true that the first 3 months are hardest?

Alicet, your NY eve sounds lovely - you must be so organised though. I tried to cook tea last night and get Anya to go to sleep at the same time - ended up with a burnt tea and an overtired crying baby. Has anybody actually managed to successfully cook a meal yet and eat it while it's still hot?

Good news - Anya had 26 ounces yesterday, and is happily taking 4oz per feed now every 3 hours. Aptamil phoned this morning after we sent them an email - they're taking it very seriously and want us to send a sample of powder in so that they can do a whole bunch of tests. Actually I'm starting to think that she just went off the taste - I'm not sure that there was anything wrong with it as it wasn't making her ill. But I don't really care now - she's happy and feeding well so hurray!

Nellie - I think it's whatever you are comfortable with. Personally I wouldn't leave dd on her own in a hotel room even with a monitor. I would rather have her with me and when we've been out to restaurants we've always taken her reclining chair that doesn't take up much room and she can sleep in. Having said that, do whatever you feel comfortable with when you get there.

Ellens - can't believe you're trying for No. 2 with No.1 only 12 weeks! On the other hand am slightly jealous - I really want another one but dh doesn't, plus we don't have the room or the finances at the moment anyway. Not to mention that it took over 4 years to conceive dd so I'm not holding my breath. BTW we also have a family of girls - I often feel sorry for my dad as he only has sisters, daughters, nieces and now a granddaughter!

Polar - yes, Anya also has a mischievous sense of humour. She will look tired and cry and then when I put her in her cot she grins and jiggles about, suddenly wide awake. I used to dreamfeed Anya exactly how Muppet describes. Now though she wakes in a panic during a dreamfeed so we have to wake her first - hopefully will pass over the next few days though.

I have just put him to bed in his crib as he was awake but yawning...

We shall see how long he's down for!

Muppet - about a routine for bf babies, we sort of have one with Olly - in the evenings this is feed at 8-9pm, and then he falls asleep in his pjs on his beanbag downstairs with us at about 10pm. we then feed him again 12-1 ish (not a dream feed as he always wakes up) and then he goes in his cot till about 6-30am ish. He does have a dummy though, so if he wakes in the night its normally just enough to put this back in, rather than feed him. During the day he feeds at about 11, 2 and 5 - sometimes he sleeps in between and sometimes he doesn't - he's often too nosy to sleep for long, unless we are out in the car. He also tends to feed, play and sleep in that order. Have you tried doing his dream feed a bit later on?

Ejt - loving the hot stone massage idea Alicet - lol at the trains - I am gonna have to get used to this as an ideal day out with boys - mine is coffee and a bit of shopping!
Can't remember who mentioned about meeting up in Ledbury, but I think this is quite near my mum's - so let me know and I may be able to make it too!
Mrs Fish - hope the cold's better soon
Stefka - agree with Polar about the dummy, they really help with settling Olly. We have these ones as they are small and don't have handles so he can't pull them out so easily and flick them around the room

We have just come back from the baby clinic and Olly is now 13lb at just over 12 weeks - another pound gained in a fortnight. The nice HV checked my latch, and we actually managed to feed from one side without the nipple shield - a major achievement. we are putting the nipple problems down to hormonal changes before my AF arrived - at least i will be prepared for the pain next month...

Hi all, and Happy New Year!

We had a great time over in St Davids with friends and their friends in a fantastic holiday house - dh and I (and Huw) actually had a tiny cottage in the back garden all to ourselves. It was lovely, all White Company bed linen and Melyn Tregwynt cushions and heated slate floors ... New Year's Eve we spent cooking and eating a lovely dinner ,then dancing madly in the kitchen. Huw watched us eat from the comfort of his pushchair, but didn't quite manage to stay awake to see in 2008. New Year's Day, two of the company went for a swim in the sea!!! I wasn't one of them - hadn't brought me bathers - maybe next year!

Oh, I hear Huw stirring, but just quickly, thanks for being here and being so great all of you - I too really appreciate having this place , even though I havne't been making it on here much recently.

I'd be very interested in meeting up - ejt, we should get something organised, I'd be happy to come to Cardiff/Penarth - and Alice, count me in for March, circumstances permitting - How exciting!

See you all soon,

Alison x

Would love to see you Apricott - wherever is best/1

Alice - I think Ledbury is a good place to meet anyway, as it's so central (not if you're in Fife perhaps, like Inzi, I think)

Have just seen this poem posted on another thread ... priceless:

Mother, of Mother, come shake out your cloth
empty the dustpan, poison the moth,
hang out the washing and butter the bread,
sew on a button and make up a bed.

Where is the mother whose house is so shocking?
She's up in the nursery, blissfully rocking.

Oh, I've grown shiftless as Little Boy Blue
(lullaby, rockabye, lullaby loo).
Dishes are waiting and bills are past due
(pat-a-cake, darling, and peek, peekaboo).

The shopping's not done and there's nothing for stew
and out in the yard there's a hullabaloo
but I'm playing Kanga and this is my Roo.
Look! Aren't her eyes the most wonderful hue?
(lullaby, rockaby, lullaby loo).

The cleaning and scrubbing will wait till tomorrow,
for children grow up, as I've learned to my sorrow.
So quiet down, cobwebs. Dust go to sleep.
I'm rocking my baby and babies don't keep.

Might print it out and put it somewhere conspicuous when MiL comes to visit!

Oooh, can't believe you're all meeting up! I am jealous - it will be so much fun. I demand a photo!

Can't remember what everyone has said... re conception, Rebecca was conceived early February (like Alice it was our first month of trying). My first incling of it was feeling weird on Valentines Day! Ejt, I didn't know you'd had more than one miscarriage and I'm sorry.

Those people who were ttc again already - have your periods returned so soon? I'm hoping mine stays away a while as the lochia didnt stop that many weeks ago... As for us, I know we'd like a second child but not quite yet (DD is 7 weeks).

She has been unwell today, unsettled, coughing, sneezing, poor little thing (catching Mummy's cold). She slept much better though (and so did I!).

Trying to remember what everyone else said.. I am with the people not wanting their DH to return to work (mine goes back on Monday having taken extra time off) as I'm tired now and what will I be like when he's not here?! He's brilliant with DD; he makes her smile and laugh and does everything, including sitting with her during the night when she is refusing to sleep....

I'm no use on routines, my DD seems to live by her own clock - the only fixed part is I do two feeds close together in the early evening and that tanks her up for ages - she can go from feeding at 8 pm to 3 am. Now if only she slept in that gap! During the day she feeds every three hours, ish.

DH is trying to feed her a bottle of EBM at the mo - she has been rejecting it and this is not good as she used to accept it - I am hiding as someone suggested if she saw me she would know her usual food was on offer... not sure if this is working though as she isnt liking the EBM much (again).

As for meals, I dont know how anyone manages an evening meal properly! DD sits on her bouncy chair or swing at lunchtime while we eat but in the evening she's too agitated.

Better go check on what's happening downstairs!

ejt - love the poem!

Well, h slept till 4.40!!! I actually had to go in and make noise in his room to wake him. He'd done the most enormous poo so I can't see how he'd slept...
He has been much happier since his little sleep whilst I cooked dinner for Ollie and me. He was in his chair and even stayed there happily while we ate it.

Dh went back today as he was supposed to have the full 2 weeks off but got ill so had to take 3 days off before Christmas and as he's self employed he had to go back today. Shame as he was really relaxing -and helping me!!
He's just phoned to say he's stuck on a train so his Christmas hoilday is well and truly over

Hello! success in dream feeding seems depend on the individual child. Josie is, and always has been, a very sucky baby (latched on fiercely in the recovery room after section). She sleeps in the cot now as she's outgrown the moses and at about 8 weeks i put her in a sleeping bag. So, i just lift her out at 11ish and feed her as normal in the chair (bottle). I let her know i'm about to do this by whispering and giving her a little stroke first. She stirs, and by the time i've sat down with her she's semi conscious. She's so funny - she'll cough, burp, smile, grizzle but not once does she open her eyes! Then she'll stop when she's had enough but i never give her more than 6oz. She goes back down and not a peep till about 6-7am.
Then again, my friend's baby will purse her lips and let nothing past.... I only started to dream feed after i read 'baby whisperer' as i was attempting the gina ford but couldn't wake her up to do the later feed.

Alicet - thanks for the advice about the gender. will have a look on the net to see what comes up. Mind you, did have a sane moment today in sainsbury's when i thought 'what am i thinking - it's too stressful with one!' But then i thought hey, that's what internet shopping and delivery trucks are for

Anyasmum - gorgeous name! I know - hoards of girls here, and all quite alpha-female! I'm going to have to teach her to stand up for herself. And if i have a boy, no way are they practising their make-up on him!

Help - what can I do to help DD with her cold?? Her nose is full of snot and she's not a happy bunny...

Choc, Joe had a cold and the pharmacist said not to touch him with anything, so I put a container of boiling water with some vicks in it under his bed and steamed him. This certainly helped him get to sleep. I also have a nose pump thing, but this only works if the snot is right at the bottom of his nose, but it was good for helping him before a feed.

MG Shula is exclusively breast fed and sleep from 10pm until around 7am.

Winnie - any tips on how you get shula to sleep that long? I am worried that if I feed olly at 10pm he will wake about 3/4am. He is exclusively breastfeed as well, nearly 13 weeks old. I find if I feed at midnight-ish he will sleep till 6am-ish, but would love to do the late night feed a bit earlier....

hi all

aparantly today is the most depressing day of the year, i can definately understand that!

right guys, i very stupidly put my laptop on top of the oven last night and then turned it on, um so my laptop has a very melted bottom and may not last much longer so if i'm offline for a while don't worry, i'll be back as soon as i can, my keys aren't always working properly either so sorry for any speling mistakes.

Shannon has her jabs tomorow which im dreading as she got so poorly after the last ones

what age do babies start rollng over from there front to there back? Shannon's done it twice but i'm sure dd1 was earlier, but i don't tend to lay Shannon on her front very often as she's such a sicky baby, she nrmally ends up with her face covered, eughh!
right i'm going to try and get an early nigh, hopefully wil be back tommorrow if my latop stays alive!

Well, I woke him at 4.40 ish and then boobed him at 5 (both sides) and then boobed him at 7 (both sides) he fell asleep but then sirred. He didn't want anymore and had yawned twice. I changed his nappy and put him to bed at 7.30 ish. Not a happy bunny at all. He screamed, I rocked the crib he would suck his hand manically. Dh came home at 8pm with milk -we'd run out- and he drank 4ozs. He's finally asleep now...

I don't seem to be able to fill him up bf him in the evening. I am seriously thinking of just switching to formula.