December 2007: It's all worth it for the smiles.

[claraquitetirednow]

I've never started a new thread before - has this worked?

Ahhhh - have decided either a) my milk isn't as good as it was before or Freya is making up for lost weight in last few weeks with massive feeding frenzy. After huge feed at 7, then both sides again at 11pm, she woke at 2.30am (probably due to DH snoring attack!! - not impressed) and fed for ages on both sides and was awake until 4am - as with last night the only way to finally settle her was give her a bit more milk (that's after the two feeds already!) but seemed to work - she then went through until 7 ish - again massive feed (well I say massive - just long compared with how she has been up to now) - and is currently crashed out back in bed. will see how today goes with giving her both sides and see if she's okay with that. Will my boobs catch up I wonder? Does make feeding out in public more of a pain though - dead easy when she went for only 5 mins quickly and calmly on one side only

Pablob - scary scary - my folks are also due to visit (Sun evening until Tuesday) and I'm bracing myself for the usual not so subtle hints regarding the state of my house! We actually have an under stairs cupboard that my Mum refuses to open! Just like you though - I do feel loads better when the house is tidy and also manage to feel miserable after visiting friends show home standard houses - it just never seems to last even if I do have a massive tidy up. My wardrobe is another planet in it's own right these days - but just can't summon up the inclination to sort it out. Ditto DD1's wardrobe - she lives off the top of her dresser and the bags from the tumble drier these days DH is a lost cause though and I think this does effect me - MIL is a complete mare when it comes to tidiness (and cleanliness a tad if I'm honest) - I accept they live on a farm but still hate the grimy feeling you always get when you're there - and to have to clean the bath before letting your Daughter in it really does take the p**s - and that was DH not me !!

Anyway - since Freya is soundly asleep and hopefully will stay so for an hour at least I might even attempt to do some washing - need to do the bed sheets we took off weeks ago so we can replace the one currently on - another Mum gripe - why isn't my airing cupboard arranged logically!!!!!!!!!! Coz I have a life ????

Morning

DS had a really settled night, thank goodness as I really needed the sleep. Awful weather again though so think it'll be another day in the house

Beanster I honestly don't think it's your milk quality that is leading to Freya feeding for longer and more frequently - maybe its a growth spurt? If you are worried about your milk though how about taking a galactagogue:

"A galactagogue is anything that excites lactation. In otherwords any thing that increases milk production. In humans common galactagogues are: caffiene, hops, fenugreek, fennel seed, blessed thistle, domperidone, alfalfa. For more information on galactagogues click here."

DS is asleep so reckon it's my opportunity to dry and straighten my hair - live with it like a mop on my head most of the time

Aside from actual dieting can I ask if anyone still has a sort of bump shape to their stomach? I have some excess flab there to lose but it's still got an odd shape.

Morning all,

BT - good to hear that you may be supporting other women with BF.

Loucee - I've still got excess flab, but not a huge amount - it's my thighs with are the problem - my waist is a size ten but due to the size of my thighs need to buy size 12 trousers which fit my thighs but are loose on the waist.

Beanstermummy- I feel better when my house is organised aswell, I always do a general tidy up in the morning when DD2 sleeps. Given up on the ironing just put washed and dried clothes back in the cupboard. Only iron DH work shirts.

Good morning everybody! New pics of ds on profile [showing off emoticon] We had a good night last night too Loucee, makes a difference doesn't it. We have dd's kidney scan today (as a follow up to ds's probs and her frequent UTI's when a toddler) I'm sooo sick of that hospital!!!! But at least mentally ready for it with enough sleep...

Beanster-I'm slightly freaked out, we had leg o lamb on Monday and maccy cheese last night too How bizarre!? However, our lamb was underdone and too bloody for me. Also the gravy you usually do is similar to ours (rosemary, garlic and red wine) but the addition of the capers adn mint sound amazing! thnaks for the top tip

Reading that list of galactagogues it seems coffee and beer are on the menu then!! Actually I bought some mother's helper herbal tea from health food shop with fennel and fenugreek-its rather tasty. Couldn't tell if it worked though.

Beanster, we've just had a feeding frenzy from hell, the past 3 days he's fed every 1-2 hrs and pretty much from 6am til 11a solid. It SEEMS to have calmed down from last night and i have to admit to supplementing with a bit of ff once a day (actually twice on tues) to get us through but I do think i have more milk now for him due to the frequency of feeding. Hope it calms down soon, I was getting a bit pissed off tbh (I know that sounds awful) but it was relentless!!

Hope you're having a nice relaxing day pablop. at hair appt. Mine needs a major over haul...

Yeah, I missed out on the 'tidy gene' too-its a real effort to remember that its actually easier to PUT THINGS BACK where you got them from instead of leaving them out where you used them

Amani, oh that's a relief to know I'm not alone- I'm a folder of clothes too and only 'speshul' things get ironed-probably a good thing as i'd scorch, burn and mark all of them. I've a nasty scar on my hand from an ironing incident a few years ago

hello all,
buzzy i will go back 3 days a week, MTuW to begin with, working 9 to 5. I am hoping to have 2 afternoons just for admin, and me time if no admin to do- here's hoping. We are also going to get her to cover one evening a week so we can go out together. Glad i'm not the only one going back this soon- though it is going to be tough for both of us [empathy emoticon]

loucee we are second interviewing a nanny who i really liked today, thanks for asking. DH wants to meet her. She is 60ish, really calm and millie was beaming at her in seconds. we'll see.

DH does our ironing [smug]-only essential things though, never things like sheets or underwear.
I also go through stages with cleaning-unfortunately our house is so tiny with so little storage that it never looks anything but cluttered-even when everything is in it's place!

DS slept well last night, from 7.45 to 2.30! Then til 4.15 and up again at 6ish-at that point I refused to feed him (he won't do lying down feeds and my head was swimming)brought him in our bed and kept shoving the dummy in his mouth everytime he stirred, managed to get to 8am before he woke properly so he can't have been starving!

Has had two massive screaming fits already today but at least they are during the day not in the middle of the night!

When you put your LO's in their bouncers etc what do they do??? DS still sees his as abandonment-even if I stay and talk to hm etc he starts crying within minutes. Put him in it earlier to try and get washing up done but didn't even have time to run the water before he started crying! Get 15 mins max on his playmat too, and that's quite rare, usually it is less than 5!

Suey glad you found one you liked and hope the second interview goes well. Must be really hard to do, big respect to anyone who uses any form of childcare-I'm way too clingy and even my mum is lucky to get a look in!

Claireybee - dd2 always starts crying when I put her in her bouncy chair but I just grin manically at her and make funny faces until she calms down. Then she is usually happy playing with her "friends" (a stripey elephant and a pink bunny) for about 15 minutes.

Loucee - what was that word, galactagogue? The thing I found works best for me at increasing milk supply is chocolate. I kid ye not.

All you people talking about ironing - I didn't do it even before I had my 2nd child . We just wear crinkly clothes in our house.

DS loves his bouncy chair, generslly he'll sit quite happily kicking his feet against the kick pads (it's a FP Kick n Play one) and after half an hour he'll start fussing to come out or if he is tired he'll fall asleep.
He has a new toy, he loves the rain maker at Tiny Treasures, can keep him amused for ages with it, so I bought one. I just keep turning it over and over and he is riverted!

Hi everyone have had a very scary time - Lily was admitted to hospital very ill on Sun with suspected meningococcal septicaemia and nearly ended up on intensive care it was the scariest day of my life...she was a a very poorly baby and at one stage I thought we were going to lose her
She has been through a lot drips blood lumbar puncture and 24 hours hooked up to all sorts monitors (including a rectal thermometer ) on high dependancy ward..
very very luckily she improved and we spent 4 days on the ward and have just come home today..she is quite unsettled and just wants to be held which I am happy to do as am so relieved she is ok...but very hard with DD1 wanting attention and no one else here and feeling quite anxious whenever she cries
The tests for meningococcal bacteria were negative so they think she had septicaemia and shock from a viral infection possibly meningits or gastroenteritis
Am not ashamd to admit that I was one very scared mummy and basically fell apart on sunday still feel very unsettled and teary and anxious

Oh Mac you poor thing {{{{{{hugs}}}}}}
We'd all be worried sick if something like this happened to our los!
So glad your dd is on the mend, give her lots and lots of cuddles!

MacD - hugs to both you and Lily - I wouldn't even want to think what it was like for you. BEst wishes and hoping things improve and she's back to normal as soon as possible xx

BT - we've got the kick and play too - although it's from DD1 and the vibrating bit no longer works - the minute I turned the tunes back on though after 2 years absence it was like a recurring nightmare - I find myself repeating them over and over in my sleep - the LO do seem to like it though don't they.

Llizzer - spooky!! The lamb recipe I've been doin gis from Jamie at home (jamie Oliver obviously) - have a look on the old internet (BBC food is a good place for recipes) but yes - that gravy is fab - as a mix between gravy and mint sauce

As for ironing - isn't that what Lycra was invented to remove from our lives??????????

Ended up giving Freya a top up of BM after her afternoon feed - pretty sad for me as she's been on me for ages and then necked 3oz as soon as I gave it to her - and she's not even that used to a bottle! She was then really happy and went until 7pm (just now in fact) so I must have given her something I suppose. She's just fed now from both sides and seems to be sort of settling (ish) so hopefully that'll be enough to do her until we go to bed at 11 ish.

Oh my good god macdoodle. I'm so so very sorry you've had to through that, you poor thing I can't imagine how awful it must have been for you. I've just given ds a big hug after i read your message, it must have been hell... IT was bad enough doing the meningitis scare with dd a few weeks ago but at least she was a big girl and not terribly ill, just the rash and high temp.

I'm so pleased you're out of the woods now, poor baby girl..

How awful Macdoodle, I hope you are feeling a little better now. Loads of hugs and get well vibes coming your and Lily's way. What was it that made you suspect? Did it come on really quickly?

Lizzer that's interesting about your DD1's UTIs (and horrible for her of course). My DD1 has just had a UTI and it did cross my mind to wonder if she might have the same kidney probs as DD2 as apparently its quite unusual for kids to get them. In fact the first course of ABs hasn't worked so she's on second, different course now, and really hoping that knocks it on the head. Do let us know how you get on. Have you heard any more about DS's treatment?

Hi buzzy, yeah it is strange but the scan today brought up no problems with dd and we're still waiting to see specialist in manchester for ds. What's happening with your dd now? If you're worried about dd1 i would ask your gp for a referral

Glad to hear that Lizzer (re your DD). Apparently mild dilatation often self-resolves. Will definitely be asking for a referral for my DD1 if these ABs don't work.
Actually haven't received a follow-up appointment from the hospital for DD2 yet. I rang them yesterday as they said to expect within 6 weeks and its been 9 weeks now. Spoke to a useless person tho so not holding out much hope of action.

On a more positive note I received a response yesterday to a letter I wrote the hospital complaining about the treatment I received while pregnant (pushing me to have an amnio, convincing me DD had Downs etc) and they have apologised. It transpires that the consultant in question was being "managed out" at the time as my experience was not an isolated incident. She is now working in Australia but not sure which hospital. I really hope other MNers don't strike her.

Buzzy she got ill so quickly it was scary - she was a bit off sat bit sleepy and grizzly had some diarrhoea and vomiting sat night and then slept all night (instead of being pleased I was anxious as she didn't seem right)...she was very irritable sun morning...and then I noticed a few spots on her leg (very few very faint didn't disappear with glass test)...and tried not too panic - we took her to GP by then she looked ghastly grunting pale and blue fingers and toes...he sent us straight to hospital husband drove at breakneck speed but still took half hour - by the time we got there she was blue mottled flopp and unresponsive - and panic stations doctors nurses drips lots and lots of fluid intravenously and the consultant talking about intubating and ventilating her on intensive care - it was all a blur I kept crying and trying to keep it together while holding her little floppy body tight - it was so terrifying - the best sound was when she started screaming her head off as she responded to the fluid ...and she gradually improved over the next few day - she is still very clingy and unsettled and wanting to feed all the time but today we have had some smiles and cooes

Oh Mac, it sounded terrifying .
How is Lily today? What about your dd1, she must have been so upset, poor thing.

You hear about how quick these things move but I don't think it really hits home until you hear a personal story like yours. How awful awful awful for you all. So so glad she's improving. Will be paying much closer attention to the symptoms you describe if I see them. I understand that babies our LOs age hardly have any immunity to meningitis despite having had the first jab. I know of a set of twins, one died the other showed knowed no symptoms at all. Really scary.

Sorry, rogue knowed in there, not sure where that came from!

Oh Macdoodle - you poor thing, poor little Lily too. I can't begin to imagine how frightening that must have been. Bless her little heart smiling for you now.

DS only woke once last night! Slept from 9 until 2.30am and then to 6.45. I feel brand new this morning. I hope this is a corner turned.

macdoodle - how awful, your poor little girl and poor you, i have come over a little teary reading that as I can imagine how terrifying it must have been for you all. I hope she's well on the mend - it is so scary how quickly these things can happen.

Oh Mac, how frightening, I hope that she's super fit soon. {{{Hugs}}}

My milk supply is dwindling so I'm off to get some formula today. Strange mixed feelings about it really, bothered about the work involved making up the bottles (and the minefield of rules) Bit sad cos I do love the cuddles when feeding her, but I'm ready to get her on bottles and I'm very pleased that I've fed her problem-free for 12 weeks.