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January 08 - shiny new-year babies!

909 replies

Naetha · 03/01/2008 08:10

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

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Naetha · 23/01/2008 12:07

Ben seems to like heavy metal, so might get some of that playing in the bedroom rather than those lullabies Incidentally, one of the things Ben finds most fascinating (and I'm sure I'm a terrible parent for doing this!) is sitting in front of the computer when we've got music on, and watching the swirly visualisations you get with windows media player! He absolutely loves it, and can stare at it for what seems like hours!

We tried swaddling on the first couple of nights, and Ben absolutely hates it. He will scream and scream until his hands are free, then pause a few moments, then scream and scream until he can kick his legs! The midwives swaddled him on the first night and I thought there must be something wrong with him to make him so unhappy, but then I let his arms go, and loosened the swaddling a little, and he settled immediately! On the last two growth scans you could see his hands up by his neck / head, and since he came out he likes to keep them there, or stretched out above his head! No matter how cold it is, if you cover him with a blanket he will always get his arms on top, and complain until he can do so! Ah well, if it makes him happy...!

Will see how the sleeping goes over the next week or so before moving the cot in - hopefully he will have settled a bit more by then! Always worth a shot though

I messed up a bit this morning - thought the HV was coming at 9:30am so was all up and dressed (even put some make-up on ) and had the front room hoovered by 9:15...only to check in my little red book and find out it's actually next week she's coming! Ah well, at least the front room is clean and tidy .

Dotsie - YANBU about your DH! I'm shocked that he doesn't want to hold your LO - I have to practically fight with my DH to get a look-in on Ben on an evening (except for feeds, but even then DH will give a feed if I express it). Although as soon as Ben wakes up in the night he becomes my responsibility again! (Although fair enough really as DH is working to keep him in nappies!). I also think your DH is being unreasonable to not change from his work clothes if he's been doing a mucky job (regardless of whether he's covered in dirt or not!). I'm not at all a "clean" person (trust me - my carpets and curtains are filthy!) but we still make an effort to keep outside shoes outside and change when we get in from work - especially so if it's involved doing something other than just sitting in an office, and this was the case before we had a baby. I'm also shocked that he doesn't make you a cup of tea when he makes himself one - maybe when you do your food shopping you should only get food for you and your DCs and let him get his own?

While obviously I think my DH is one in a million and absolutely fantastic (I am biased though!) he's still a blokey bloke - doesn't like cleaning, a bit of a slob, plays far too many computer games etc. But he still makes an effort and pitches in - often he'll cook dinner, and if I've cooked then he'll always make an effort to help tidy up, even if it's just a case of carrying dirty plates back into the kitchen when he goes there to get a drink. I'm still struggling to get him to change the cat litter though - I think that's something I just have to live with doing myself!!

Fruitful - can't believe Theo is 6 weeks already - time goes so quickly! With you on the feeling tired front though - I think my best sleep is for 2 hours between 3 and 5, and then naps during crappy daytime TV (Ben's only 2 weeks old and I'm already sick of To Buy or Not To Buy, Homes Under the Hammer and Cash in the Attic!). Thank goodness for Sky+ - means I can record decent stuff in the evenings and watch it during the day, and I can rewind it if I doze off!

TMS - Domperidone - just makes me think of Dom Perignon - I know what I'd prefer!!!

Hope you're all coping well! Anyone ventured out to a mother and baby / post-natal group yet?

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Naetha · 23/01/2008 12:14

Ooh crossed posts Amani - so sorry the BF isn't going well. Don't beat yourself up if you feel you can't carry on - you've done amazingly well to get to this stage - I really am impressed. I would have given up several times over if it was anything worse than just sore nipples!

And don't forget that you really have done amazingly well to get to this stage - every week that your LO has breastmilk is great, but if it gets to the stage where you're suffering as a result (and from the sounds of it you really are) then maybe it's in everyone's interest not to carry on. I know you've probably posted this already, but have you tried expressing and bottle feeding? This makes such a difference for me, as it just gives my nipples a couple of hours off from being clamped and chewed on, and means I am more positive coming up to the next feed. I know if I hadn't been able to express the odd feed I would have moved onto bottles by now.

Lots of ((((hugs)))) to you Amani!

Right, really need to make the most of Ben's sleepy time and get some washing on!

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MamaMaiasaura · 23/01/2008 14:06

Naetha - Samuel is waking between 2 hourly and 3 hourly for feeds and same at night. Keep telling myself that he is only 3 weeks old, well 4 weeks tomorrow. He also wont settle back to sleep away from me in the night and also has those wide awake moments. Been reading up in my baby books and am going to think about starting bedtime routine at 5-6 weeks.. It will basically be getting him in sleepsuit, story time for ds1 (with baby listening in) and songtime. Then feeding and putting him in cot or basket around 8pm. At the moment Samuel feeds at 8ish and then again and 10 and then we go to bed. He managed moses basket for about and hour.. then back in bed with me. I co-slept with ds1 and although i planned not to this time it seems to work for us for now. Also dp is sleeping downstairs to make sure he gets full nights sleep. Also i dont have a duvet on the bed at all. We have fleece blankets and sheets.

Dotsie - great advice regarding the sleeping thing. Want to bring cot in with sde down etc but need to work out how to fit all furniture in our bedroom here. YANBU re hubby x

Amani - hugs re the feeding. xxx

Re the spots - ended up at drs as spread to his chest, dr said nothing to worry about just hormones and milk spots. Nice to get reassurance.

Am shattered but ever so happy iykwim. Went to mum and baby group yesterday which iwas good but am feeling tired now. Have bfing group on friday and clinic tomorrow. My scar feels very sore todasy so trying to take it easier.

Am everso broody too. Hope to ttc number 3 in december when Samuel a year old. All dependent on money though

beller · 23/01/2008 14:08

Amani, hope youre feeling better soon, must be awful, thinking of you!

NAetha -Gingme George is the same..hates being swaddled. He does like this very annoying musical thingy to go to sleep though, it projects shapes ont he ceiling, which he cant see yet, but loves the music (which drives me mad), and will happily go to sleep with that. The other thing i bought was a babyskinz, a little sheepskin thingy that goes in his pram or moses basket and makes it all comfy...seems more than happy in that now?

toomanyshoes - very envious of your social life!! Think im going to go mad...i am meeting friends during the day, but nights are tough! Going to stay with my sister this w/e though, and im off my anti biotics after today, so things are looking up!

Barristermum - George was the same fora week or so, but i think i was mistaking his cries sometimes....hunger for wind..or over stimulation etc....working it out now..but his wind is quite hard to get up at times, so have to spend longer doing that. Hoep it gets easier hun, i have been sat at the end of my bed at 4 in the mornign in tears too xx

Big wave to everyone else, hope all is goign well on the steepest learning curve of all!
Might not be on much over next few days,as might stay with sister for nearly a week, but will try, thinking of you all xx

MamaMaiasaura · 23/01/2008 14:14

have uploaded more pics

gingeme · 23/01/2008 15:17

Afternoon ladies. It would seem we all have snuggly babys that like co sleeping. My mw just made her last visit to us. George has come back up to his birth weight now so shes happy to leave us to it. The best thing is the health visitor came yesterday and said the clinic where I take him to be weighed is where Ihad my anti natal checks and where ds3 goes to school
Has everyones lochia stopped now ? I thought mine had and I went out for quite a while Sunday and I was 'gushing' again . Sorry tmi.Eased off again now.
Off to a kids party this afternoon. Its at the kids house so I can plonk myself on the sofa and watch it all going on. DH coming this time too so hopefuly no accidents this time.

LuckySalem · 23/01/2008 15:34

Awen - Gorgeous pictures.

Can I ask you a quick question girlies? What does everyone think about sharing baths? I was going to go for a bath with Aaliyah later tonight (or rather just lie in the warm water with her) it is safe isn't it? As long as I keep an eye on the water temperature obviously.

Me and Aaliyah seem to have sorted sleeping out, she goes 3-4 hours at a time between feeds. it's nice. DP somehow manages to sleep through them all lol. She tends to sleep more during the day so at the moment that's when I'm sleeping and as she grows up i'll try and get her to switch her clock round so she sleeps more in the night. It's working for us.

Hope everyone is ok.

Naetha · 23/01/2008 17:30

Lucky - sharing baths not a problem at all, just remember keep temp cool enough (shouldn't feel hot to your elbow) and avoid smelly soapy things

We tried a shared bath, but the only bath Ben likes is when we almost completely fill up his baby bath and he floats with us holding him by the shoulders. He absolutely loves it!

That's how Ben slept as well at first - we thought we had an absolute dream baby on our hands! It's only been in the last week or so that he's been more difficult to settle at night - suppose it only makes sense really as he gets more aware of his surroundings etc

Gingeme my lochia slowed down to an absolute trickle (with the occasional spurt when I feed him) about a week ago, but is still trickling! Hopefully will stop soon!

MW came this afternoon for the final visit (which I'd completely forgotten about!) and discharged me. She weighed Ben, and he's already up to 9lbs 13oz! He's put on nearly a pound in the last week! So regardless of how much feeding is hurting my nips, it's obviously working and all getting through to him!

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Amani · 23/01/2008 18:04

Thanks Naetha, Awen, Beller. I've started expressing (although I am lucky if I get more than an ounce out ) and also mixed feeding which is a huge relief for me now, at least Aliya is still getting some benefits.

Gosh, it's hard having a toddler and a newborn. While feeding DD2, DD1 decided it would be great fun to scribble her crayons all over our lovely wooden doors.

Re:Co-sleeping, did anyone catch the segment on 'This Morning' today about it? Was enough to reconsider it...

Think sharing a bath is fine,as long as you are careful..

Amani · 23/01/2008 18:04

Thanks Naetha, Awen, Beller. I've started expressing (although I am lucky if I get more than an ounce out ) and also mixed feeding which is a huge relief for me now, at least Aliya is still getting some benefits.

Gosh, it's hard having a toddler and a newborn. While feeding DD2, DD1 decided it would be great fun to scribble her crayons all over our lovely wooden doors.

Re:Co-sleeping, did anyone catch the segment on 'This Morning' today about it? Was enough to reconsider it...

Think sharing a bath is fine,as long as you are careful..

Fragolina · 23/01/2008 18:16

have posted birth story here - totally shattered 9but stiull euphoric), will catch up another time. love to all

Naetha · 23/01/2008 22:17

Wow that's an amazing birth story Fragolina - I'm ever so impressed by your strength throughout it!

And Tana is absolutely gorgeous - post more pics when you can!

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toomanyshoes · 24/01/2008 06:17

Congratulations Fragolina - fab birth story

Naetha - tried Dom Perignon for increasing milk supply but not very successful don't know if the domperidone working yet but got an electric pump arriving on friday so hoping that the 2 things combined will keep my milk going a bit longer.

Amani - ypu are like some sort of BFing superhero for carrying on through all your problems! Really hope it gets easier soon but if you decide not to then I just think you've done a great thing to last as long as you have

Beller - hope the stay at your sisters gives you a bit of a break. Must be so knackering on your own. It gets so much easier soon, honest!

Lucky - hope the bath was lovely - haven't had a bath with Charlie yet, might try tomorrow

Have been awake since 3.30 this morning with a very grouchy baby! Gave up on trying to settle him in our room so downstairs watching rubbish tv in the dark and feeding. Not sure whats wrong with him, bit of wind i suspect. DD woke up crying an hour ago too and said a big mouse was trying to get her have assured her that i will not allow any big mice to come into our house and she has gone back to sleep.

Susiemj · 24/01/2008 06:38

hello toomanyshoes over here!

haven't had a chance to catch up but 2many and I are Mntting on the graveyard shift

(waves frantically at 2many)

every time i put sabela down she does a little bit of possetting/crying! just enough for me to have to pick her up to clean/comfort...

Susiemj · 24/01/2008 06:38

hello toomanyshoes over here!

haven't had a chance to catch up but 2many and I are Mntting on the graveyard shift

(waves frantically at 2many)

every time i put sabela down she does a little bit of possetting/crying! just enough for me to have to pick her up to clean/comfort...

Susiemj · 24/01/2008 06:38

LOL at big mice!

Susiemj · 24/01/2008 09:14

got nap opportunity

MamaMaiasaura · 24/01/2008 10:49

Lucky - I share baths with Samuel. As long as not too hot is fine. Also you can have it deeper and supporting head and shoulders let their body float. Samuel had a good kick in the bath last night. Before i actually got in the bath with him he pood and peed all over me tho. Another tip is noever to feed in the bath because of what comes out when they feed learned that with ds1! THanks re photo comment

Gingeme - still losing lochia here too. Somedays heavier than others.

Amani - Missed that on this morning what did it say?

Fragoline - Huge congratulations!!! xx

Toomanyshoes - poor you with bad night. Hope you manage to catch up on some today x

Samuel had a good night last night.. After having marathon feeds from yesterday afternoon - hour long plus feeding. I fed him at 10.30pm and put him in moses basket and he actually slept in it till 3.15am! He had a quick feed and then slept till 6.30! All in moses basket. Weirdly I felt less rested at 3.15 feed than when we co sleep. He is asleep now but starting to fret a little so will have to log off soon.

Samuel also has an art of peeing when nappy free... he got himself int he ear and eye today poor baby. Yesterday he managed a hat trick with me.. he peed, pood and puked on me. Nice... the joys of motherhood.

Amani · 24/01/2008 12:35

Awen - This Morning had a piece about a woman who was co-sharing her bed with her little one and sadly it passed away. Although circumstances like that are rare, I do feel upset when I hear about these incidents. Oh, isn't a baby pee-ing on you supposed to be a sign that something good will happen to you?? (It's an Indian saying)

Susie- hope you had a good nap

Fragoline - Congratulations and well done. What a beautiful meaning for Tana.

Toomanyshoes - thanks!

Amani · 24/01/2008 12:36

Awen - This Morning had a piece about a woman who was co-sharing her bed with her little one and sadly it passed away. Although circumstances like that are rare, I do feel upset when I hear about these incidents. Oh, isn't a baby pee-ing on you supposed to be a sign that something good will happen to you?? (It's an Indian saying)

Susie- hope you had a good nap

Fragoline - Congratulations and well done. What a beautiful meaning for Tana.

Toomanyshoes - thanks!

BWMum · 24/01/2008 12:51

Awen - I've had a similar experience this morning, DD had a pooey nappy so I started to change it and she pooed again every time I wiped her butt!! Five nappies later and a changing mat smeared in poo.....! - charming
However, that is very good news for us as we would have been back up at the hospital today if her bowels had not been working. I was beginning to feel rather stressed about her lack of bowel movements - think I've posted about this before - so it's a real relief that everything is working on it's own.

Naetha - no advice on your problem with Ben sleeping, but I've found that giving DD a big feed last thing (i.e. 11pm) gets her through to around 3:00/3:30. That way, even if she struggles to go back to sleep, I've managed about 3 hours sleep myself. Do you think he might have wind that wakes him up? DD has that, and it's a real pain to sit for ages in the middle of the night patting her back and waiting for a burp - but if I don't then she'll be grizzling and cross within 2 minutes of going back into her bed. Hope you find something that works anyway!

Does anyone have any suggestions for expressing? (Amani - I know you have been having problems with this as well, sounds like you've had an awful time with BF.) I manage to get less than an ounce out at a time - this is giving it about 20 minutes. Do you put the suction up quite hard (I've got an electric pump)? I seem to get a few spurts, but then long periods of nothing at all. I've seen some suggestions of doing it while BF, which I might try next but it's quite noisy so I can see the white noise factor putting DD straight to sleep!

Anyway, hope everyone is doing well today. For those of you with more than one DC, I think you are heroes! I can't imagine how I could fit another child in at the moment!

Susiemj · 24/01/2008 15:00

Sorry I haven't had a chance to catch up. Just wanted to celebrate as a) I feel human today and b)Sabela is now an ounce above her birth weight. She put on 240g this week.

I'm so relieved I'm off punch the air a bit.

I'll catch up probably tomorrow. I hope you're all doing well.

(just read a bit of BW mum - glad about the bowels! Is the ounce after breastfeeding?)

fruitful · 24/01/2008 17:24

Naetha, the domperidone did work - boobs like watermelons - but unfortunately ds2 didn't get any better at removing the stuff, and I didn't get any better at expressing it either. So I stopped taking the tablets before I exploded! I am now bottlefeeding - [whispers] I like bottlefeeding. If only they sold milk as good as ebm I'd not even consider bf'ing.

I had my follow-up appt with the surgeon this morning. Setting foot in the hospital again freaked me out a bit! Apparently the reason for the hysterectomy was partly the placenta accreta (wouldn't detach) and partly that my scar ruptured and "there wasn't anything left to save" . But I can't bring myself to be too bothered, I just want some SLEEP!

fruitful · 24/01/2008 17:25

Susie, it is so nice when they put on some weight isn't it!

gingeme · 24/01/2008 19:01

Evening ladies. Lo slept from 10.45 to 2.50 am in his moses basket last night but co slept from 2.50 till 7am because I fell asleep feeding.
But felt I actualy got a bit of sleep.
Went to a friends childs party last night and bf there. Didnt feel too embaressed. George slept most of the time anyway because my friend held him nearly the whole time
Did you bf ds1 fruitful? I only bf my lot for roughly 5-8 weeks so realy going to try hard with George to do it a bit longer.
Awen my lochia is weird I have nothing for a couple of days then it realy gushes for a day then nothing again
Sorry dont know who has bathed with their baby but isn't it lovely . I remember bathing with ds4 and he actualy wriggled his way up my belly to my breast and started feeding
Gave lo a little bath last night and rubbed olive oil into his dry skin. Didnt smell very nice but it seems to have done the trick.
Dh has changed his shifts at work now to constant lates which means hes here most of the day and can pick ds3 up from nursery. Phew long post. Thanks for listening