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

Samuel now 12lb14oz (well was that on thursday). He is doing good. Bought him a little sleeping bag as he keeps kicking off covers. He has been going 4 hourly at night and usually 3hourly ish in the day although it changes so often. No really worried as will just go with flow as they change what they need as they grow. Re my weight, still have a stone to lose., Not going ot worry about it atm and went and bought myself some size 14 jeans as been making do with ex maternity and strechy size 12's.

Immunisations are booked for 26th dreading it. Also have gynae on the 27th as episiotomony not healed right and looks likely i will need to be restitched petritfied about that. No sex here for a while me thinks

Hello all
Was v briefly on the jan antenatal thread altho mainly hung out on the feb thread and the pregnancy after miscarriage thread. Dd born 23rd jan so 3.5 weeks old. She's doing pretty well although am terrified that am using the dummy way too much. Its just that I find it almost impossible to settle her without it. She then usually spits it out. When do you think they become habit forming as I really don't want her to use one to get to sleep in the long term. I just am so knackered. Views?

Bluebell - that sounds just like Ben when he's overtired, unfortunately it took a couple of nights like that to realise what it was! When he gets to that stage now, we swaddle him, down in his moses basket and leave him for up to 20 minutes to go to sleep. Thankfully he never cries while swaddled as I can only leave him for one minute when he's crying!

I think it may be Gina Ford amongst others who recommend not letting a baby under 12 weeks stay awake more than 2 hours. While I don't follow it religiously, I think it's a good idea.

Angechica - what do you mean by "chatty"?

Madmouse - sounds like Nathan's really making progress - the bath must have been lovely

Meant to say before - Dotsie, I'm in Bingley if you want to meet up one day? Maybe somewhere like Hebden Bridge? If there's more northern lasses out there then what about Leeds?

Susie - I only get about 5oz in the morning if I've fed through the night

D'oh meant to say as well - Ben slept from 3:30 am to 9am this morning!!! Hopefully if I can alter his pattern slightly then he can sleep for 5 and a half hours from 11pm onwards, with the length of time getting longer and longer hopefully! I live in hope anyway!

Victorvictoria - I wouldn't worry about dummy use at this age - I think ideally if you can wean her off it by the time she's one, then you should be fine

afternoon all
Lovely to see you mm glad your feeling more settled now and Nathan sounds like he is doing well , fingers crossed he proves them wrong.
Hi Lolo hows things , r/e formula whatever works for you i say
Naetha / Dotsie i up norf too , Rossendale so Leeds ok for me if can time with school run.
Susie would go with telephone directories much cheaper, if you don't mind me asking why are you on your tip toes
Barristermum hope the top ups help r/e the weight. at turning engine over , we have twice don't know how we found the time though
Awen doesn't sound good r/e stitches what a nightmare!
Victor not sure when they become attached to dummy. Have you taken it out when she asleep. We using ours bit more now but tbh i am happy for Martha to have one both my others did until 2 and didn't have too much trouble stopping it, however depends on your views on this. I just glad she doesn't use my nipple so happy to substitute.
Fluffy is it you who told us about Mrs Mc are you in touch with her ? How is she and lo?
Hope everyone else ok

I mean it has a kind of cheap feel to it Naetha, I cannot believe how much it cost - if you can get to Mothercare where they sell it and have a look first maybe.

Well Alek is 18 days old now and having a rough couple of days ... he won't go down, if he falls asleep on us he stirs a few minutes later. So he's been getting v overtired and unhappy. Also seems to have windy pains... hopefully just a phase!!??

Hi guys, just checking in with a quick one while all calm in the lolo house!! Alex is asleep, happily digesting her 4pm feed (she's already happy on 4, 8 and 12... i love my daughter!!!!!) and dd1 is running around singing "old mcdonald" with dh... could be worse!!
Lots of hugs to Awen and Fluffy... i just got lucky this time with no stitches etc (or the baggiest fanjo ever!) but wince when i read your experiences, hope it all sorts itself out soon guys!!!
Madmouse way to go!!!!!! Hope Nathan continues to defy the docs and that you can enjoy him properly at home soon. the pics are gorgeous too... he's just lovely! Hi Victorvictoria, think the latest SIDS / cot death advice is to use a dummy, i have given Alex one a couple of times in last week but have to confess dd1 still has one for bed at night (she's 20 months). I hate kids running about with them, but don't mind her having it in her bed, i was a thumb sucker till i was about 12, and my sister has a dd at 8 who still sucks her thumb, whereas her ds gave his dummy to the "dummy fairy" when he was 2 and has had no problems.... you take your money you take your choice!!! personally i'd rather be in control of it, and therefore don't mind dummies as long as they are clean and for sleeping only, but see who else has an opinion, i gather it's an emotive subject!
lilyloo, i got a lovely text from Mrs Mc last week to say congrats after i texted her to tell her about Alex's arrival, but i don't think she's been back on Mnet since.
Susie, thank you for your comment, yes it works for us and i don't envy the sore nipples thing at all.... ta for the support!
Anyway, better go and do the mummy bit again, time for dd1's dinner! love to all, lolo xx

Just a quick one to say that my internet is broken and that's why i'm not on.

Aly is fine and 4 weeks old now. She's looking at us and smiling. It's lovely. we're taking her to my parent's on thurs and me and DP are having a day to ourselves. Going to cinema.

We're expressing but not getting loads, just enough.

Sorry i haven't looked at the thread but hope your all ok.

XXX

Evening ladies.
Well lo was a changed bpy today. I have been doing the no cry thingy during the day today and he has been sleeping in his chair lovely with no screaming. Last night was quite good too though I did cheat at his 5.30 feed and bring him in bed with us. Try not to do that tonight.
I know how you feel about using a dummy. I think Ive had this debate with every baby I have had. Never had to though they all seem to have sorted themselves out.
Oh well spoke too soon. Mind you it is 6 oclock feed time.
Take care all xx

madmouse - great to see you on here

hi everyone else, too many to name or i'd be here all night!

seems like we are in 2 camps; those who are having success at getting LOs to settle & sleep and those who aren't.
we were in the first group until last night .
i was physically in bed from 8.30pm - 11am (with a break for ds1's breakfast) but had about 4.5hrs sleep in total
managed a nap this afternoon tho so feel ok now. was depressed earlier about it and had to keep saying, this too will pass!

anyway ds2 was asleep pretty much all day yest but has been awake most of today so hopeful for tonight [fingers crossed emoticon]

my mum arrives tomorrow to hep over the next 2 weeks will see how it goes...really not looking forward to life without dh during the week

anyway, must get on, want to get to bed early again - if not sleep

There are some funny upsides to a baby that spends the early weeks in hospital. Having decided not to bother with a routine for the first six months we now have one who is fed every four hours (although that will not last when we are home and I demand feed), wakes up half an hour before his next feed and feeds himself to sleep most of the time. Every day his notes say that he is such a happy and settled baby. Not that he does not cry, boy he can have a temper, but usually because he is wet, hungry, or has his nappy changed.

Nathan has come off the monitor and now only has an apnoea sensor under his cot mattress that gives an alarm should he stop breathing ( will will buy one for home, more for my peace of mind) and a feeding tube that will be out soon as he now takes all his feeds from me or a bottle (his notes say he is awake for every feed during the night and demands a bottle).

Sorry, I keep on waffling on about Nathan, not that I am not interested in your lovely little ones .

By the way, what is so wrong with dummies? Surely as long as you do not dip them in sugar and use them instead of proper parenting? it is so easy to make us new parents feel bad about things . A dummy really helped to get Nathan's suck reflex going again, and did I not recently hear that they can help prevent cot death? I am sure we are all able to use our judgment, aren't we?

I am a fully paid up member of the dummy appreciation club! Both DD and DS were/are very sucky babies and would happily clamp their jaws around my nipple all day long given the chance. I took away DD's dummy after a few months (can't remember exactly how long) and replaced it with a teddy as a sleep association thingy. She didn't fuss about the dummy and still sleeps with the same teddy now.
Horses for courses and all that but I have genuinely never understood what all the fuss is about. I can understand not wanting an older child to have one but don't see the problem with giving a baby something that calms it and reduces the risk of cot death. My MIL is horrified by my cavalier dummy attitude

DS still practically perfect in every way he has been a bit unsettled in the evenings the last few nights and wanting to sleep in my arms but today he has decided that the moses basket is not too bad after all and sent himself off to sleep in there. 3 hours so far so reckon a feed is imminent. Have also been potty training DD this week (she is 2.10) and have only had 2 accidents all week so very, very pleased

Madmouse, so fab to see you have joined us over here. Nathan sounds like a strong little character. Bet you can't wait to get him home.

Beller - don't know why I've had labyrinthitis so much, just prone to ear problems i think. Hope yours clears up soon!

Gingeme - glad the book is working! i read it when I had DD and thought it was really useful. Heres to a peaceful night tonight!

Hello to everybody else, hoping you're all asleep

I am a fully paid up member of the dummy appreciation club! Both DD and DS were/are very sucky babies and would happily clamp their jaws around my nipple all day long given the chance. I took away DD's dummy after a few months (can't remember exactly how long) and replaced it with a teddy as a sleep association thingy. She didn't fuss about the dummy and still sleeps with the same teddy now.
Horses for courses and all that but I have genuinely never understood what all the fuss is about. I can understand not wanting an older child to have one but don't see the problem with giving a baby something that calms it and reduces the risk of cot death. My MIL is horrified by my cavalier dummy attitude

DS still practically perfect in every way he has been a bit unsettled in the evenings the last few nights and wanting to sleep in my arms but today he has decided that the moses basket is not too bad after all and sent himself off to sleep in there. 3 hours so far so reckon a feed is imminent. Have also been potty training DD this week (she is 2.10) and have only had 2 accidents all week so very, very pleased

Madmouse, so fab to see you have joined us over here. Nathan sounds like a strong little character. Bet you can't wait to get him home.

Beller - don't know why I've had labyrinthitis so much, just prone to ear problems i think. Hope yours clears up soon!

Gingeme - glad the book is working! i read it when I had DD and thought it was really useful. Heres to a peaceful night tonight!

Hello to everybody else, hoping you're all asleep

oops sorry about the double post!

toomanyshoes sounds like you have a very happy and settled household at the minute. Well done you.
I sat for over two hours trying to get lo to bed last night. By 10.30 I was knackered and took him into bed with me where he managed to sleep till 2am had a quick feed and slept in his basket till 5 where he woke up with a wet babygro. Changed all of him fed him and took him in bed with me where he slept till 8am. Will try harder tonight. Ill give him another week and if no joy Im going to buy a dummy.
Madmouse so glad Nathan is doing well. Yes you will see the difference in him when you get home . Bet you cant wait though
DH highlighting my hair today ready for this wedding were going to tommorrow. He is also taking my other two ds's swimming this afternoon. Im staying home and hopefuly getting some rest.
Hope all your days go well.
Take care xxx

Is it just me, or is anyone else in a permanent state of worry about their milk supply decreasing? I may be becoming obsessed. Anyone else?

Just you I think mine seems to be showering out at times.

I think i've got loads NOW but I keep worrying I won't have.

I think it must be because loads of people I know 'ran out' at 2-3 months. I know this doesn't really happen - only if you do things that make it happen. I'n just worried that the top ups we were told to give her is one of these things. She is now so used to having them.

Susie - I doubt your top ups are going to make your milk run out...but I hear stress can have an effect on supply, so relax!!

TMS - I am in total AWE of your in control household...I've been daily blessing having got ds toilet trained ahead of dd arriving - there's no way on earth I could cope with doing that at the same time...in fact I nearly had a nervous breakdown just now dealing with dd bawling in the middle of a theoretical sleep period at the same time as ds (also in the middle of highly theoretical sleep period, which loosely translates as lying in bed playing with soft toys, singing and reading books) desperately needing a wee - feel like I've run up and down stairs 30 times in the past hour....so much for dh's bright idea of putting dd down to sleep in her carrycot downstairs today ...

oh well, all good excercise - and I need it - got a full 2 stone to go and don't even dare consider my pre-maternity clothes at the moment...suspect I can squeeze into some of my larger size 12 stuff (was 10 pre-preg but 12 post-preg last time so have a flexible wardrobe!) but it won't be pretty

Got 2 weeks to go before big party to introduce Tamara to the family (and 4 weeks until we host another one for friends)...so had better start shedding a few pounds soon [panic emoticon]...of course it would help if I could resist the 4.30pm daily chocolate siren call...

FWIW I'm hugely pro-dummy...ds ditched his in favour of his thumb around 4 months, but it made the most enormous difference to all of us for the first 16 weeks...even tho I was massively against them before he was born. Sadly, Tamara isn't that interested in them, which is a shame as I found them so useful for settling ds when he was unhappy/nearly hungry but not quite etc. Oh well...

Right, its feed time and we've got friends arriving for tea in 5 mins so I'd better make it snappy. Love to all xxx

I've been paranoid about my milk supply decreasing now I'm mainly expressing. It did seem to drop somewhat (or ben's demand increased massively - either way there was a short fall) but it's caught back up now. I've found with expressing it's better to express little and often than 2-3 big expresses a day. Just make sure you wait for the second let-down of the hind milk Are you managing to freeze any? I'm managing to put away about 5oz a day which is reassuring. Is it better to try and eke the milk out by doing 50/50 Ebm and formula, or straight from EBM to formula with no mixing?

Just been out for lunch with the in-laws. Lunch was fine, but MIL (well, PIL's gf) is just horrendous! She is a matriarch of a huge Leeds-Irish family and is so overbearing. She has an opinion on everything, and isn't afraid to voice it. No subtle hints or the odd dirty look, just great comments like "Urgh a dummy - no child of mine ever had a dummy, they're just for lazy parents". She'd rather stick her unwashed finger in his gob with a horrible yellow half inch nail on it!

Still, thankfully was only for a couple of hours and they don't visit too often (despite living 5 miles away). Real MIL is coming up from Jersey next weekend. (That's the terrible thing about divorced parents - you get two sets of inlaws!) She's OK...ish but can be very very hard work! You'll just have to bear with me having a rant on here in a week's time!

Ladies, hello! Many apologies for being AWOL for so long ? it?s been 3 weeks and 3 days since my last post which funnily enough is the age of my beautiful son Xavier (pronounced X-avier) who was born on 24/1! I am in awe of all of you who managed to post in the early days, I can?t seem to get anything done other than feeding and tending to my baby, not that I resent that at all! There is no way I can catch up so can anyone do a brief summary for me? How are you all and how are all the babies?! I have put a couple of pics on my profile. xxxx

just gatecrashing to say a big congrats to MrsMc! Xavier is utterly gorgeous!!!

mrsmcjnr a grand name for a grand boy. He is lovely.
Had an interesting conversation with my niece earler today. She is 7. I was bf George and she asked 'when will he be old enough to have a bottle?'. I said 'he wont be having a bottle!'. She said 'dont be silly, when will he be old enough?'. I said again 'he wont be having one'. She laughed and said 'so hell drink from there all the time then?'. 'yep'. 'oh' with raised eye brows. Out of the mouths of babes eh?