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

oops, 'scuse all the typos - clearly the face cream doesn't have the same effect on hand-eye co-ordinatoin as a real nap would

I like the moisturiser idea Frag...will definitely be giving that a go! Know what you mean about tummies Unfortunately I have 2 stone to shift and it just isn't moving - so bf not working for me either! And I'm trying so hard to be good, but I haven't got the energy to diet at the moment and am fairly dependant on carbs to get me through.......hopefully it will start to shift once I'm through the 8 week check thingy and can start getting to the gym a couple of times a week [slightly over-optimistic emoticon]

Sounds like most people are starting to emerge from the 6-8 week black hole that is new babydom? Even though I was expecting it, the first few weeks are still such a shock...not just the sleep deprivation, but the hormones and everything else! Tamara will be 6 weeks tomorrow, she's cooing nicely and sort-of starting to smile but she seems to save those for her big brother exclusively

Nights are getting better - last night she went from 11pm to 7am with no feeds in between, just a quick re-swaddle neeed at 5am when she had wiggled loose...of course I was wide awake from about 3-5am, just waiting for her to wake up!! I'm not complaining, mind

I don't think she'll repeat it tonight as she's had a tummy upset today...threw up all over me (and I was wearing my only clean jeans!!), the chair, the cushio and herself this morning, then did an 'up to the armpits down the toes' explosive poo when she was swaddled up at lunchtime (so I didn't spot it immediately...eek!), then did both, simultaneously, on her changing mat this afternoon whilst I was in the middle of changing her!!!! So she's had 2 baths today already and I think we may be in for a bit of a rough night...

Lolo - delighted to hear about your new washing machine - I can empathise, as I'm hugely excited about my mum's enormous (full height) old freezer which just got delivered to my garage today...I am finally going to have some spare freezer space!!! Admittedly, this won't last long- but there's at least a few weeks cooking space there ! And somewhere for all my ebm....those little white bags are taking over my kitchen freezer!!

Lilyloo - thanks! I'm going to try the cream the doctor gave us (why not?), but reassured by your ds having the same thing.

Tamara still has terrible spots...huge big ones and little bumpy ones...I'm just trying to ignore them and keep them moisturised but I do wish they'd go away...!

Hugs to everyone, hope you all have good evenings and peaceful nights xxx

Fragolina saggy tummy x5 here. I have promised myself to start step classes at the end of April. Need something to perk me up a bit so to speak. It is a big shock yes I know, though I did see a lady from my ds's playgroup who I havn't seen for ages yesterday and she said how good I looked. Ah I always liked her

I'm with you on the saggy (and stripy) tummy. It's definitely exercise time here although as my gp said, the biggest challenge is going to be doing it while tied to a tiny baby. Oh well. Lady in Barnardos shop yesterday asked how old Sabela was and then said I looked great and how did i manage it. Now it's a total lie cos I've got 2 stone to lose but it made me feel better too. Makes mental note to praise all post partum mums' figures in the future.

morning.... been up early as DH is away on a trip today and had to catch 6am train. So I've just had to negotiate multitasking with dog and bairn in pushchair for the dog's walk. The fresh air seems to have knocked the LO out well though as I have got him to settle in the cot for a daytime nap for once!

Anyone else havea dog...? our poor mutt is the most neglected dog in the world, he just mocches around the house miserably while I'm rushing around after the LO.

Woke for a 6am feed and the whole left side of my left boob is sore . It's not red though and I don't feel fluey. Could it just be a blocked duct I wonder?

Aha...I knew I spoke too soon...just had the night from hell ...which serves me right for admitting to my good fortune yesterday !

In fact, I felt like a flippin' yo-yo, in and out of bed all night - I wondering at 5am whether there was any point attempting to go back to bed....of course it didn't help that when T was settled either ds or dh was keeping me awake... DH was grumpy this morning because he'd been awake from 5-6 cos he was cold - which would have been my only chance to get some sleep after 2am, if he hadn't kept me up ....hey ho...this too shall pass...I hope!!

Oh, and my day has got off to a lousy start as my lovely new cleaner has just told me she's not going to be able to be my lovely new cleaner any more

OK, enough grumbling...we're all doing fine really, I just become a real grumpy-guts when I don't get my full 8 hours! In fact, not even several buckets-full of creme de la mer (that £120 moisturiser!) would give me that 'just had a sleep' look right now!!

Off out to visit friends this morning, hopefully will be less grumpy when I get home...but I'm putting T on notice that she'd better start smiling soon if we're going to keep her!

Phew, hospital just rang to say that Nathan CF test was normal so that is all done.

I hope I am not speaking too soon Fluffy, but Nathan's colic seems to be getting less, in bouts of about 15mins in the evening rather than hours of inconsolable crying. And he (and I!) slept from 11 till 2 and 2.15 till 6.20! Then he needed some help to settle after his feed and yukkie medicine, but hey ho who can complain!

He has just drank himself in a drunken stupor once again so is now out for the count which makes me wonder, Nicky and others, you say you try not to let your baby fall asleep in your arms, but Nathan usually drinks himself to sleep or else is a bit colicky and needs comforting, so how do I avoid it? I do take every opportunity to put him down just before he is asleep, but if I time it wrong it is a scream fest! And to be honest, he is so small and has been through so much, I just love having him asleep on my chest or on a cushion on my lap. Rod for my own back probably, will have to work at it when he is bigger and more awake!

madmouse - just enjoy they are this little for such a short time and won't fall asleep on you pretty soon and you'll look back and think why didn't i just let it happen? just go with the flow, if you need the loo or want to put him down for some reason then do it, otherwise, lie back shut your eyes, have a doze and enjoy
(envy, here, me? surely not!!)

bad luck fluffy.
had an ok night here, think i actually made it to 8 hours (2+3+1+1+1), hooray!

ange - we have 2 cats, and yes they became neglected after tom, and even more so now! just makes them friendlier/more desperate for attention.

sure there was lots more to say/reply to but lunch ready, henry asleep, i need a nap then off to town for some trouser shopping

well they do seem to change every day. Had a really good night the other night and then last night thought things were really going well

Managed to get charlie down in her cot in her own room at six thirty without her being asleep first then fed at 8 then 11 with sleep in between - dinner with both hands lovely.

Then for some reason only took 1.5 oz at 11pm fed by dh and then predictably was awake at 2 then 4 (just to be settled) then 5 for feed then 8.30. I had been getting rather use to my 5 hour stretches during the night but at least we didnt have a night of screaming with colic - so cant have everything i guess.

But much more fretful during the day and this morning at 12 only took 1.5oz again - normally such a guzzler, i wonder if she is going down with something off to surgery for weigh in and check so will ask there.

Maybe its the thrush in her mouth that causing the probems

heh ho - this too will pass. soon they will be bigger sleeping through the night and we will be wishing them small again

crying loads today inbetween sleeping. Also ds1 off with bad tummy.

frag & nicky - episiotomony probs here too. having repair next tuesday.

got to go he is crying again

Evening ladies. George been real moany today too. Felt quite hot this morning too. Its because of his jabs yesterday I think. Slept loads last night though Had his bottle at 8.30 and slept till 2.30am then had a bottle and back to sleep till 7. What a good boy. Awen sorry to hear ds1 not well. Hope he gets better soon

ange - missed this before - yes i plan to have a hosp debrief, it's up to me to organise and i think i will give it a go, can't do any harm don't think.
as for post c-s tum, tell me about it. am going back into town tomorrow determined to find some trousers that fit. that aren't an 18. so there.

bad news re crying babies during day, tho am of better sleepers. i am obsessed with sleep.
will need reminding of this when i start thinking about no 3...

pizza ready best go, sleep well babies

for all lo's who are out of sorts!

Ange we have dog she has just had less and less attention with each dc , feed days feel quite guilty as she used to be our baby just not enough time in the day.

Well we with you all on the mixed days/nights just when you say how well they doing it all regresses!

Mm great news on Nathan

Will try the moisturiser thing here Frag anything worth a go, how tired. Think it really hits mid afternoon so trying to keep myself busy then!

Wishing some sleep to us all tonight

felt terrible today - sore boobs and shivery - been to docs, if is mastitis have hopefully nipped it in the bud and got some antibiotics. it's entirely my fault - I read about putting a rolled muslin under breast to get a better "aim" and this meant wasn't emptying ducts properly... Never mind tums - the boobs I fear for, mine now down by my waist and pointing to the floor. That's why it's hard to get good positioning with Alek as he is so big, there's not enough room between nipple and lap! Anyway trying rugby ball hold instead and will see BF adviser at clinic tomorrow to get some tips. But I guess the boobs will never be same again? I am thinking of how long to keep up BF now, not sure if I will make it to 6 months to be honest especially as I still have no luck expressing, i try every day and only get about an ounce and it's not getting any better.

Well Alek was 6 wks old today! Amazingly - got lots of smiley pics of him have added a couple.

Evening all

Well, even though Ben is sleeping OK (sleeps from 8pm ish to 7am ish with feeds at about 11 and 3am) I'm absolutely exhausted! I think I'm more physically exhausted though - been trying to do too much. I've been walking about 2-3 miles every day when it hasn't been peeing it down (and a couple of times when it has!) and my muscles ache! Not to mention my arms and back killing me from lugging a mahoosive 13lber around all day! Although I'm back to within a couple of lbs of my pre-pregnancy weight, I'm determined to get fit for the summer, and especially banish the jelly belly for good! I was a porky lass before I got pregnant, so every little helps I guess!

The only sleep problem I have with Ben is that on an evening from when DH gets home from work (6pm) until 7:30 when we start to wind him down he gets really fractious and often cries with no apparent cause. I don't know if this is still the after effects of the jabs (over a week ago now) but we never had any problems before! "This too shall pass" - repeat ad nauseum!

Exciting thing is DH has agreed that we can get the bathroom sorted, and he's given us a budget of £3k (from our savings) so I'm going about getting quotes etc. I'd love to only have to spend a little, but our whole bathroom is tiled, and they all need removing (horrible brown 1980s patterned tiles) and there's a fair amount of electrics that need doing. He's also said that we can spend money on getting a decorator to do our bedroom rather than trying to do it ourselves. I know this sounds lazy and a bit excessive, but there's lots of fitted cupboards, a gas fire to remove and me and DH are so impractical!

This weekend is going to be our first long-distance trip out with Ben. We're going to Bedford to see my grandmother. She's 93 and Ben's her first great-grandchild so she's very much looking forwards to it! I'm using this, and my other grandparents' 65th wedding anniversary (something to aspire to eh!) as an excuse to go shopping and try and get me something nice to wear! I've been watching "What not to wear" during the day, and ambitiously have decided that I need to look more glam! I have a tendency to wear nothing but jeans, a hoodie and vaguely-fitted-but-baggy-enough-to-hide-my bulges tops, and I rarely wear anything that isn't black, blue or khaki! I scoff at the thought of being a yummy mummy (trust me, I'm a slattern!) but it would be nice once in a while to look nice

Right, off to grab some shut-eye and rest my aching back!

Hugs to all

hello everyone!

Glad everything is settling down for you madmouse, sounds like Nathan is developing well, I was only saying to my dh last night how suprised I was that Ruby was doing so much at 7 weeks, I have my hands full!

It seems that all the LOs are starting to sleep a little longer, Ruby usually has 5 good nights out of 7, Monday night was traumatic but she slept like an angel last night! Wanted to poke my dh is the eye on Monday night because he turned over at 4am and said 'arrr she is having a little growth spirt!' and then turned back over and started to snore! She wasn't have a growth spirt at all she was just being cute and wanting to sleep in the bed with us!

Bleeding stopped as quickly as it started, I was reading up on women bleeding and I've heard that if the baby starts sleeping through or is moved away from the mother then it could cause the return of the dreaded AF!

Gingme- regarding the major poo incident, I have had many of those, she saves them usually for when we are food shopping, horrendous!

Hope you are all well and enjoying parenthood- I'm loving it, Ruby is currently snoozing in her bouncy chair in front of Jeremy Kyle! Woman after my own heart!

OMG you guys - remember how I was SUCH a bitch about my SIL when she said she was pregnant? (OK admittedly she was being bunny boiler-ish and constantly making comparisons), but I feel sooo bad now.

She had a routine midwife appointment yesterday, and the midwife told her that her baby had died! And because it was just a routine appointment, she was alone. She was then sent off to hospital and they gave her a tablet to prepare her body for labour and sent her home - at least by then the father of her baby was with her. The tablet should act in the next 48 hours. I can't imagine what she's going through now, and she'll have to try for a vaginal delivery, knowing that her baby is already dead. Please send her your prayers/positive vibes for strength.

Oh Fragolina, how very sad, sending your sil prayers to get through such a terrible time.

Hi, can I play? My ds arrived on 2nd Feb, but there's no feb thread...

Frag - what a horrible thing to happen. My thoughts are with her for this awful time.

Hello horsy - come play! What is ds's name? my dd born 1st Jan - name Sabela.

Oh well, typically Nathan was hard to put down last night. In the end DH said I think he is fine and wants attention (at 3.30am after a full feed) lets leave him. We did and after some crying and dark mutterings to himself he went off. Same again at 6am.

Angechica,the very elegant but helpful solution to your problem is called tubigrip. The breastfeeding counsellor at SCBU cut me a length to loop around my breast and hold it up a little. I don't use it anymore (although I am still enormous, I use my other hand now) it was a great help.

Nathan is a bit moanie today, did not poo yesterday or today so far and it seems to be in the way. He even does little cries in his sleep and the most fantastic smelly farts. Oh well, it will come soon enough and go everywhere .

Fragolina, how horrible for your SIL. How far gone was she? 20+?

Hi horseygirl, did not mean to ignore you. Nathan is also a February baby, just! (4.21 am on 1 February). His due date was 30 January, so I have always been on this thread.

Fragoline - how sad thinking of you and your SIL

Hi horsey!

Not been up to much. Both DD's are asleep so tucking into some Malteasers and a cuppa...

Malteasers!!! Haven't had any in ages - forgotten how much I loved them (totally went off chocolate when pregnant and using bf as excuse to make up for it now ) Off to shops now...

So sorry to hear your sad news Fragolina I hope it goes as well as can be expected.
Welcome horsygirl
We put Georges cot up today with a little help form ds4 Just lucky we didnt lose any bits as he kept running off with the bag of screws. Little monkey
Lo looks so tiny in it. Bless.
Got lots of packing to do tommorrow for our long weekend away to Haven. My goodness I'd hate to think how much luggage we would need if we were going away for a week
Getting lots of smiles now which just melt my heart. Real lip curlers too look Elvis 'thnkyou very much'.......
Cant wait for my parents to see him on Friday. They won't believ how much he has changed in such a short time.
Well thats about it. Hope all are well. xx