January 08 - shiny new-year babies!

[Naetha]

Thought I'd start this thread now as I think there's already a couple of people to go on it, and I know there'll be an awful lot more!!

Will update when I get a chance

Nicky - When I had my C-section. My "bits" hurt a lot as well which is where they put the cathetar so it may well be that for you.

hi fragolina - last time i made sure i had sex before my 6wk check so when the doc asked if everything was ok i could say yes, or i could have said if there was a problem. not sure this time tho if i will up to it after a c-s in less than 5 wks???....

we have some good crib nights and some not so good. i find if i let tom settle on my chest or fall properly asleep in my arms before i put him down it seems to work better. plus if i put him down then turn off the light, that doesn't work, if the light is off before he falls asleep and before i move him then it's ok. maybe this'll help?

hi lucky - how's your recovery going???

recovery is ok but i want to do more than i'm allowed to do... lol

Evening all
Lucky can't believe hv told you off for co slepeping My midwife said it was fine if you don't drink or smoke (yet again conflicting advice ) I don't think you can spoil her yet i did it with ds and dd. TBH ds was with us for too long and we made sure dd went in her own bed about 6 weeks and she has been fine ever since. In fact she is still a great sleeper having 12 hours a night!
Barristermum i would ignore the growth charts and try not to top up with formula as it can impact on your supply.
Fruitful, omg i can't believe it only just your due date how funny that must be!
Glad everyone else doing ok and go Fragolina thinking of resuming sex life already

I'm not thinking about sex until she's at least 18!! hahaha... By then i'll be menopausal and safe!!

I'm kinda ignoring the HV cos we're both sleeping and she's safe. She doesn't sleep under the covers unless I'm awake and can keep an eye on her heat. Neither of us smoke (DP quit when she was born) and i've not had a drink in nearly a year (apart from the 1/2 glass 2 weeks b4 she was born) so as long as she's happy i'm happy.

Evening all

Funny isn't it how nearly all our LOs won't sleep in their moses baskets / cribs at night...it's like they're all communicating! There's a few interesting articles on co-sleeping on this website here - made me feel a little better www.naturalchild.org/articles/sleeping.html It's a little bit "knit-your-own-placenta"-esque, but makes quite a lot of sense really

HV came today - Ben has jumped up to the 75th centile - weighed in at 10lbs 8oz, so put on nearly 2lbs in 2 weeks! He's also very long - outgrew his newborn stuff 2 weeks ago, and his toes are starting to get scrunched in some of his 0-3mth sleepsuits. He has little arms though, so we have to keep on rolling the sleeves up!

Still having some trouble BFing, but decided to discard all the stuff about getting the positioning right - if I sit up straight and do it all how I'm meant to, it hurts like hell and his latch is crap. If I "botch" it and end up leaning over him shoving my boob in his gob, it works! I still get regular breaks of suction (I think this is the effect of the tongue-tie, as everything else is fine) but if I'm contorted in odd shapes it's much easier to rectify

This is going to sound a little odd, but what do you all actually do in the small amounts of free time other than watch TV? If truth be told, I'm bored for much of the "down" time. There's only so much TV I can watch / computer I can go on, and gorgeous though Ben is, I can only sit and gaze at him for so long before I go cross-eyed! I used to play computer games, but I don't have the patience any more, and ditto for reading novels - I can't seem to concentrate for more than about 10 minutes. I need a hobby I think, but one that is compatible with a baby! I probably naively thought that all my time would be taken up feeding, changing and cleaning, but I have quite a lot of time when he's asleep (in my arms - often wakes up when I put him in his basket even in the day!) when I'm at a bit of a loss. Any suggestions on the back of a post card!

One vestige of my old life I did reclaim in a small way at the weekend was the motorbike! DH psyched me up to take his bike out for a spin for half an hour while Ben was asleep. Was great fun, and not nearly as daunting as I thought it would be after a 9 month break! Realistically, I'm not going to be able to ride it much (I only took it for a spin around the block!) until he takes a bit more time between feeds and my hormones settle down!

Ignore this question if you like btw, but has anyone "done the deed" yet? I probably could in a physical sense (think everything's healed enough just about), but my sex drive is absolutely non-existant (even more so than before!), and (I feel bad for thinking this!) the longer I put it off, the more of a break I get from DH about it, as once it's done, he'll think it's back on the menu all the time! I guess I'll give it a try before the 6 week check - at least I can have a glass of wine to "get me in the mood" now though! As long as I express a feed first anyway!

Sorry for this not being a very personal post, but I'm giving lots of weight gain vibes to little babies, and lots of healing vibes to those of you that are sore! I just love to hear how all of you are getting on - it's so reassuring to know that we're all going through the same stuff together

Hey Naetha

Not done the deed yet. See post below about waiting till she's 18!! lol. Seriously I already want another one! haha

Down time is spent either watching TV, playing computer or sleeping. lol

I think we've fixed the sleeping thing by the way. If we swaddle her she doesn't wake herself up with her hands so we get longer sleep and she slept in her basket ALL night last night.

Naetha same thing crossed my mind too r/e the lo's not sleeping in baskets at night!
Well done though Lucky on full night in basket!
I don't have free time any more Naetha in between school / nursery and pre school runs i am usually feeding or changing Martha.
I would sleep if i could , on my own in my bed !

Lol yes - to sleep by myelf in my bed for more than 2 hours!

Occurred to me earlier that I haven't slept for more than 2 and a half hours in one stretch for over two months now.

Feeding non-stop tonight, but don't think he's actually taking much in - lots of wind, fussing and crying. As soon as he comes off the boob he's fussing and rooting frantically, but won't take his dummy. Will occasionally fall asleep on the boob, only to wake himself up screaming 2 minutes later.

sigh

it's a funny world! lots of you ladies are trying to get your babes to sleep and I'm trying to wake mine up every two hours for feeds!

Naetha - I don't really have much down time on this feeding schedule. I'm trying to get out of the hous a bit. and sleep! haven't yet done the deed but would like to. really scared of sore c-section tummy though. It still hurts like hell due to internal bruising.

i think sabela is getting fatter. was thinking today that perhaps the combination of bf and formula is actually ok. feel so much pressure to use formula and so much pressure to exclusively bf, but sabela is thriving on the way we're going so that's the main thing, right? I know formula affects supply and i would like to just bf but maybe i should just stop stressing about it all for a bit.

barristermum - good news about cerys. you're lucky to have such a supportive hv.

question - what do your tiny ones like doing? - apart from booby action - sabela is completely fascinated by lights. she stares at them for ages.

wishing you all a good night - whether you want your babesawake or asleep!

ps. naetha - you go girl with the bf position. i've been told so many times sabela isn't doing it 'right' even with a perfect position and latch. have concluded that she's a little individual and can suck how she likes. if she weren't getting food i doubt she'd bother sucking for 20 mins 12 times a day!

Morning! Feeling very full of a cold today, got it from DD who is still full of snot and looks like DS has it too. He is very snuffly and sneezy.

Susie, I agree re the formula. If it works for you stop stressing about it.

I totally agree that BFing is great and the best option but I get really peed off at how fanatical people can be about continuing exclusively at all costs (don't mean anybody on this thread by the way ) I think some people forget that it is only a bit of formula, not arsenic in a baby bottle! I think it has become yet another thing for women to feel guilty about if it doesn't work out. I just think there is so much more to being a fab mum than breast feeding and you just have to do what is right for you and your individual situation. Right, rant over! I've just had some really ignorant comments about mixed feeding (i can't BF exclusively so never been an option for me) from people and has irritated me, can you tell?

I definitely think there must be some anti moses basket support group that lots of the babies have joined. Was feeding Charlie in the night and thinking about all those empty baskets all over the country and all those snuggly babies in your beds.

naetha - I seem to spend all my down time tidying up at the mo (the joy of a baby AND a toddler) but with DD I went out every day as I just found it so much easier (and less boring ) if I was around other people. Used to go to baby screenings at the cinema (going to start going again from next week) lunch/coffee with NCT friends, visit my mum, go shopping etc. Anything to avoid being stuck on the sofa in front of daytime telly really! As long as it was somewhere I could feed DD I just bundled her up and off we went. Think it helped that she was born in april though so much nicer weather. Don't fancy leaving the house today - it looks foul out there!

Re doing the deed, I'd like to but have developed SPD since delivery and it really hurts, don't think I could manage it at the moment! Waiting for physio appointment to come through. Hope its soon!

Hope you all have great days x

Hello all,

Just a quick message to say that Honor Emilia Bisset was born on Monday night, weighing 7lb 11oz. Birth went pretty much to our rough plan and we had a water birth at the hospital.

Will post pictures and birth story when I get a chance.

Mrs B
x

congratulations mrs biscuit! welcome little honor - lovely name!

Just a quick one cos i'm at my parent's house - Dad's changing my brake pads for me

Mrs Biscuit - Congrats on the safe arrival of honor (love the name by the way)

We had a good nights sleep last night (in her basket again) she went down at 12:30 till 9:30am with a quick break for some food at 4. I'm so happy.

Hope everyone is ok. xxx

Congratulations on your new ariivals nicky6 and MrsBiscuits.

Naetha - yes I have some days were I am a little bored, and seem to spend my free time, on the PC or tidying up (which is a bit pointless as when DD1 comes home she usually trashes the place).

Agree with toomanyshoes, at the moment I am BF and give formula for top up and I am happy with it. I was actually feeling quite low by exclusively BF (due to a variety of reasons). Whatever is best for the individual.

Oh well, back to ome more tidying up....

Bravo Mrs Biscuit - and also love the name!

Naetha - I seem to flop like a limp quiche whenever not directly involved ith Cerys so am impressed you have the energy for boredom. But like toomany I have enjoyed walks and mother and baby screenings at our local cinema - these have a really lovely atmosphere - great fellow feeling, tho' it adds to the general sense of time being all out of sync when you leave a darkened cinema in the middle of the day!

Chuckling at your less than enthusiastic response to the thought of resuming marital duties!!! In all seriousness even if you are ok physically you don't sound ready in your head and that is just as important so whatever reason your dh thinks applies, you wait till you are gagging for it once again. In the spirit of confiding, we haven't yet and won't until have moved lo out of room - find the thought of going for it when she's inches away a bit icky. Also although c-section scar doing v well, not sure it's up to that quite yet!

toomany and susie - yeay for the rights and pride of mixed feeders! Do not be put down. Your los are thriving - that is the ONLY criteria!

Isn't it a foul day? No afternoon stroll with Daddy for cerys today which means no afternoon nap for mummy - alas! Let's hope it's a good night's sleep ahead.

Ooh - and forgot to say to Nicky - bravo and congratulations! And b-feeding is so much harder than you expect isn't it?

sorry missed this - HI to mumof2under2 (me too)

Congrats Mrs Biscuit love the name too.

lucky - 2 good nights in row? have you cracked it you think?

re the whole feeding thing - go with the flow (no pun intended) - if it works for you and your baby, then it works.
the bf mafia & the ff mafia come to that are so set on one or the other that they won't allow for 'grey' areas of mixed feeding. as your babies mum, you know if it's happy and content.

i don't feel like i get much time to be bored here, tho i can see with one, when they sleep all the time, it can be.
i was surprised that i could carry on with lots of things i thought i wouldn't be able to do last time.
my advice would be, imagine that baby as a toddler, running around the house and all the things/hobbies/interests you will have to put on hold/out of reach/in a cupboard/give up for the next 10+ years...then do them NOW!!!
i.e. i love family tree and it tends to involve pieces of paper, making notes (so a pen or two), and sitting on computer for hours looking stuff up - no go with tom, fine with just henry
or jigsaws (yes i know i'm a nerd!), def no-no with toddlers, babies - no probs!
right tom napping, henry asleep, shd really be asleep myself.

Congrats to Mrs Biscuit and Nicky6 on the birth of your babies!

Barristermum - not sure if you're earlier question about expressing has gone away if you've decided to top up with formula at night, but I had similar problem. At first, I got about 2 good squirts and a bit of a dribble and then nothing no matter how long I sat. Now I've started expressing during DD's first two morning feeds for ten minutes (i.e. while she is feeding, I express). Requires a crash course in juggling but it can be done. I hate that stupid machine and feel quite self conscious doing it so I decided to express for ten minutes only and then let myself off the hook. I've been doing that for about 5 days now and am slowly getting more milk every day - up to 2 - 2.5 ounces now. It's not enough for a feed yet, but DH gives it to her last thing at night and then I bf until she's had enough.
I also have a similar "problem" with DD sleeping for ages. My breastfeeding counsellor suggested feeding her every 3 hours during the day as they can evidently "miss" the hungry signals if they're very sleepy babies - my DD has mild jaundice that still hasn't cleared and makes her sleepy so I need to feed her to do that. Evidently she should become more alert after a few days and then start waking herself and asking to be fed.

This feeding thing is incredibly stressful! I'm still worried she's not getting enough or that I don't feed her often enough. I find feeding a real chore by the end of the day as it takes her at least an hour for each feed, and I have to fight to keep her awake for that hour. We really wanted DH to be able to give her the last feed of the day so I can sleep a little and he can have some "daddy time" - he's at work otherwise - but I can't express enough for that so that plan has gone out of the window too. Sometimes I do think a little box of powder would be easier....!!

Congratulations MrsBiscuit
Lucky two nights
Completely agree with you all r/e bf. Just do what works for you. I firm believer in happy mum = happy baby ! And you know your baby best!
Toomany hope the cold doesn't last too long you could do without that at the mo couldn't you!
That's the prob with having a Jan baby. The awful weather. DS was born in April and we went out for a walk every day but it's just too cold! It has been trying to snow all day here so just been shopping as when we get it we can be stuck in for days!
Well dp came home at lunch today so i got 2 hours sleep on my own in bed and it was lovely
Hope everyone else ok !

HI All

Congrats Mrsbiscuit and Nicky6! Good to have you here xx

Barristermum - i find it hard to express too, but im fine Bf...HV said it sometimes works that way? I am giving George a formula feed once at night, it settles him slightly better and with no-one else to help, im not beating myself up about it..and hasnt messed with my milk supply. Also want him to get used to a bottle, so if anyone else does have to look after him, they wont have problems....Would express more, but like I said, dosnt seem that easy..have tried Hand pump and electric

George will go in his basket, but has had a tummy ache last 24 hours, so been very "cuddly", hope i have a better night tonight, he cried for 4 hours last night poor thing, didnt know how to help him, seems ok otday though.

George love me singing to him , must be th eonly one, as i am a crap singer haha...loves nrusery rhymes,and lying on his mat kicking legs and gurgling. He is also smiling now, which is heart warming....soooo cute!

HOpe everyone is ok, and getting through the sleep deprivation! I am back on anti biotics as infection still hasnt cleared up!
Bigs hugs and much sleep for all xxx

beller - hope the antibiotics work this time, poor you
lol at singing, my mind always went blank with tom and i found myself singing the same songs over and over, think i have a bigger repertoire now!

really feeling tired today, dh took tom out this morning, i saw a maternity nurse and tidied up (dishwasher packed up so did some washing up!), had a nap when tom did after lunch, then got dh to drop us off at a friends for a couple of hours playdate.
so shouldn't really be as knackered as i am. got to try to get to bed soon.

toomanyshoes - so sorry for you about the spd, is it common to get it after pg?? what are the solutions? given that during pg the ideal treatment is to have baby!?

Congrats MrsBiscuit and Nicky6

Well, I'm absolutely exhausted - nearly a week of cluster feeds, wind/reflux, trapped wind and refusing to sleep almost anywhere other than on me.

I'm peed off because DH has gone to sleep early because he's tired (he sleeps through every night feed!) even though him being up wouldn't actually be of any benefit (other than making me cups of tea!) and he has to go out to work. To be fair he's said he'll do a couple of night feeds at the weekend if I express beforehand. Just not sure a) If I'll be able to sleep for that long without checking on him! and b) if he'll settle that long without me - he's been very clingy since this wind has started, and a couple of times DH just hasn't been able to settle him, when he's settled within seconds of being handed to me.

Sorry for doing my evening rant again - it's just got to the time where I'm desperate to sleep, but I just can't!

(((hugs))) to everyone else - I know you're all going through the same