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

[claraquitetirednow]

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

no nspcc banner here - one for knives where yout nspcc one is and at the bottom/top is centreparcs.

hola todo
just back from seville and have tried to catch up- but have speed read a little so i am sorry if i have missed anything obvious.

Fav clothes- definitely monsoon for girls. They are expensive, but they have huge 70% off sales. I have also been given so much, i don't mind splashing out on the odd thing she really needs.

Pecka- soo glad you are getting on better. I splashed out on a medela double expresser when millie was about 3 weeks old and it changed everything.

Amani- please let us know you're ok

BTW we did pretty well on hols- routine was out the window, but she did very well and we learned a couple of very important lessons. She was sooo smiley- loads of people kept coming up and saying 'mira, mira, que guappa!' (look, how gorgeous) and millie would reward them with a huge smile which would totally send them into fits of giggles. Also DH realises it is more difficult to look after her all the time which is useful.

hola suey, how nice to have had some sunshine! bet it was fab! how was millie on the flight, did you bf to stop her ears popping?

re pumps do you use this one? medela swing

I am going to treat (?!) myself to build up a store of EBM for back to work as its seriously starting to stress me now!

I am getting bit stressed about work too I have a bit of stock of EBM already frozen...tried bottle today and she was not happy - spat it out / grizzled / looked puzzled /sucked a bit and then just let the milk run out of her mouth
Am sorry I didn't freeze milk in smaller batches as I wasted 5oz today and I only have bags of 4oz and more frozen - should have done small 2oz seperately (hint for others)....
Going back 10 weeks monday she will be 23 weeks so only need to keep going for a few weeks to get to 6 months and would dearly love to be able to carry on morning and evening feeds myself

Thanks for the link Loucee. Does anyone know the philosophy behind this baby lead weaning stuff? Is the idea that they'll be less fussy eaters? Or is it supposed to aid their general development - i.e. by giving them more control etc? I must admit DD1 was all jars and she's a great eater now - but it was also great when she started eating the same food as us, only chopped smaller!
Having just had the HV bang on to me about "feed milk first, wait for an hour, try a single food first pureed to a liquid, 1 mouthful only...etc etc" I'm quite keen to find an approach which fits a bit more naturally with DD. Am interested in your thoughts!

In the bounty book it says about their physical development and that they dont have the right enzymes etc to adequatley break down the food. Says lots of other stuff too.

Sorry for you that are going back to work and having to deal with the stresses involved. Doesnt seem long ago we were all still pregnant.

Caz I've got that pump and I really would recommend it. I find it easy to wash/sterilise, very easy to use and most importantly it's very effective. I've been through a fair number of pumps whilst bfing DD (Boots own, Medula mini electric and Avent Isis manual and now the Medula swing). I don't think they do the new technology in a double version (I could be wrong) but a double would be good for draining both boobs at the one time. I spose it depends on your needs though as I only express from one side so that I have the other one full and at the ready should DS wake for a feed.

Buzzy I did have another link bookmarked from when I weaned DD but the site must've moved as its not working, shame because it gave a great explaination about BWL and some guidelines etc. From what I remember it's the idea that babies should be in control of what they put in their mouths, and if they put something in their mouth they are less likely to choke on it. Apparently they control what the quantity they want and the pace they want to eat at etc. I thought it was great for DD but hand on heart this time round I will be giving more spoon feeds as DD is very fussy and a small eater and I've no idea if it's related to weaning her at 6mths or the BLW but I just want to combine both this time.

Awen I posted on your thread about GAs, good luck for Tuesday, it must be such a hassle to have it done but I am sure the results will be very worthwhile. I had a GA when DD was 9mths old and she fed approximately 3 hrs after my op.

Suey welcome back, glad you had a good break. Its very interesting for our partners to understand what exactly is involved in looking after babies/toddlers/children etc. In our situation it wasn't until we had the extended hospital stay after DS was born and DH had to look after DD full time that He fully understood what its like to be the main carer for Her (and thats without understanding the feeding bit etc).

Macdoodle that's very good advice about storing some milk in smaller quantities, I hope your little one takes to the bottle soon but sounds like you've got a few weeks before you start work so hopefully she will be swayed soon

caz i do have the medela swing which i used from the beginning when i got engorged on day 3. However, it was taking such a long time to express to begin with and since i had a night nanny at that time (sigh, those were the days) I wanted to fully express before going to bed. So i took a big gulp and bought a double medela- it says pump in style advanced on the front and looks like a rucksack. Now, i wouldn't bother because it takes only 10 minutes to fully express, but at the time it could take half an hour per boob. I took the swing on holiday with me and it was just as effective albeit one at a time. ( i only expressed in order to have some milk in a bottle for the flight back, and for a day trip involving 1.5 hours each way travel) On the flight, I bottlefed her, just because i didn't know if there would be a stranger in the next seat and if there would be enough room, or whether it would just be a little too close for comfort IYKWIM. She actually fell asleep during descent and landing! A couple of screams which is usual when she is tired and/or hungry. Otherwise charming the rest of the passengers, just as well as it was a crappy airline and there was really very little room.
Macdoo- can't you decant after defrosting? then at least you can warm it up in batches and it will be good for a day?

I have given up sterilising. She shoves loads of things in her mouth now, so it seems pointless. She is pretty healthy so i thought it was worth the risk.

BLW- i really fancy it. It just makes sense to me. I read the link in full and will try her, hopefully at 6 months, with soft fruits and veg cut into batons as they suggest. I will also be dotting bits of sauce on her tongue in order to familiarise her with other foods

morning! nappy time but just wanted to post this for you buzzy, and others! i've got the gill rapley dvd on loan to watch this week, will post a movie review!

www.babybanana.biz/page28.htm

oh and have just seen this for you loucee! about SMP, maternity rights etc, it was in the Bounty pack thingy:
www.acas.org.uk/

Hello everyone, hope you all had a good weekend. My mum was overjoyed seeing ds again, she had plenty of cuddles with him so it was good visit. Pity my dbs were such shits. But well that's them all over.

I have a read of all your messages but have forgotton already who said what!

Sterilising - I was thinking the same thing, that is probably a waster of time as ds is also now putting everything in his mouth - I mean I can't sterilise his hands!!

Nighttime - Going to try not to change his nappy unless it either leaks or I know he has done a poo. But was wondering at times if he is walking up because it is sodden? Also think that maybe he isn't sleeping enough during the day he had a monster 4 hour sleep middle of day yesterday and not too bad a night - woke up at (times in GMT!) 10.30, 3am and 5am. Again he has had 4 hour monster nap (asleep in the car as we drove back from Essex) so will see how he gets on tonight.
Going to start a diary of his activities tomorrow to try and figure out his routine. Nothing to do tomorrow except wait for new washing machine to arrive...

Mememummy - feel very bad as I was the first to comment. Hope she comes back and lets her know how she is doing. Did anyone CAT her?

Oh and my periods have definitely come back... started again on Saturday, despite ds being exbf!!!

I tried to CAT mememummy but she has not got CAT on her profile I hope she is ok and didn't take offence I have become so paranoid and anxious since Lily was in hospital and I worry about everyones babies

Have put some photos on my profile, off to bed now.

Awwww Thing - your dd is gorgeous! I love her little frock

Hello all
Have you tried again with a bottle, macdoodle? The reason I ask is that my dd refused to take a bottle of EBM yesterday for the first time. DH has been giving her a bottle of EBM once a week or so just so that she will take it so that I can go out but yesterday she just rolled the teat around in her mouth, moved her head away and spat it out. She did this a few times before we just gave up and I bf her. I thought it best not to make a fuss but I'm planning to try again today. We found that breastflow bottles worked best as the tommee tippee ones seem to flow too fast for her. Maybe she needs a different teat??

As for routines, here is ours (roughly) although it is probably unusual as dd sleeps through most nights and is breastfed. Some days are different but this is our usual weekday routing:

wakes up between 5.45am and 6.30am

feed (both sides)

8.30 am put her in her bouncy chair or on baby gym while I get breakfast

9.30 am put her in her cot while I have a shower. She usually falls asleep while I am away but will only sleep for a round half an hour

feed (both sides) 10.30/11 am

usually naps in pram if we are out or falls asleep on bouncy chair if not. Only usually for around half an hour

feed (one side only) 3 pm

bath 5.30 pm

feed both sides

dh winds her and puts her to bed any time from 7 pm. He puts her in her sleeping bag and leaves the room with a night light on and she usually settles herself

Morning everyone.

Oh quick post as DS just woke up from his nap.

He's still on GMT so thankfully he slept until 6.30 this morning , with wake ups at 2.30 and 3.30 of course. It feels much better not to have to get up at 5.30 though .

DS was a complete nightmare last night.
he woke up to feed at 12.30, what with slow feeding, leaky nappy I didn't actually put him down until 2.30 and then he wouldn't settle. Most of the night he was either feeding, crying or sleeping in our bed. Managed to get an hour's sleep around 4.30.
Wonder if it was the long drive (and consequently sleep) in the car that has made him unsettled.
He's had a couple of short cat naps already, just having his third now. Though has just stirred!
Really want to take him out for a walk, my new washing machine has arrived but still waiting on a Freecycler to take away my old one, sent her an email yesterday asking her to ring me for directions but no joy so far!
New machine is fab, sooooo quiet! Old was so noisy, it made ds cry!

same bt. Millie was up from 1.30am last night screaming for no obvious reasn- wasn't her teeth as she rubs them when it is a problem. Had to close the door on her at 5.30 am as i was not helping. She has been very sleepy all morning as a result, but was in work so at least i got some work done! (despite the sore head) I thought about feeding her but since she has gone through now for 3-4 weeks i didn't want to, so held off. She did poo 3 x yesterday, so i think she may have an upset stomach although it doesn't seem distended.

Don't you wish they could talk to you and tell you what's wrong??

Last night much better here. As usual tried putting ds in bed after getting his pj's on and for once he didn't scream at me and lay quietly. It was 9.30 before he actually settled though but could tell he was really trying to sleep before that so just stayed with him and kept popping his dummy back in/soothing him until he eventually settled (was a veeeerrrrrry loooooonnnnnnngggggg and boring 2 hours for me!)
He then woke at 11.30, 2.15, 4.20 (when I fell asleep feeding him for an hour, oops!) and then for the day at 7.30. So not a brilliant night in the grand scheme of things but far far better than we have been having lately!

BT really feel for you with your bad night, that's the kind of night we have been having and it is awful!

Wizz know whst you mean about feeling better for waking up when it is proper morning not at silly o clock!

Caz no routine to post for you but if ds is sleeping I never wake him (not that he really ever goes long enough to warrent it!)

Macdoodle hope meme comes back...shame you weren't able to contact her.

Suey glad you enjoyed your holiday and that dh got an insight into full time parenting.

RE sterilising, havent bothered with dummies since first few times, didn't think there was much point as dd kept manhandling it/shoving hers in ds' mouth. Just give them a good wash every so often (definitely not as often as i should ). Did sterilise the pump/bottle before using it but that has only happened twice-if was using daily probably wouldn't bother everytime.

BLW worked well for dd as was the only way she would eat. She isn't fussy but still has a tiny appetite. Will probably do it with ds too but won't be adverse to spooning stuff in if he is willing. Not purees though as not much point if you wait til 6 months, just bits of dinner that are more difficult to eat with hands eg cottage pie (though dd used to manage fine by grabbing handfuls of it!). Oh and dd didnt get her first tooth til she was 1 so lack of teeth definitely not a hindrance.

Yesterday we discovered that if you sit ds on the floor he can balance for 5-10 mins before topping over! Is not proper sitting though as he is slightly leaning forward not upright

Suey2 - I think you might be on to something, ds has been a poo machine this morning! He's just now done another one! Better go change that bum...

I agree it would be so much easier if they could talk (blimey sound like James Herriot lol)

bt and suey - once they start talking you'll hark back to the quiet days with longing (; - all i get all day is what's that, where's daddy, what am i doing today etc etc etc..... from dd1 not dd2 obviously....

those with wakey babies who usually sleep, could be growth spurt or that they are hungrier and ready for weaning maybe.

sorry crap post am one-handed as feeding as i type

Thanks everyone for your concern.

Thought I was finally getting over my PND but maybe not.....Don't know where to start or how to put what I am feeling across as I don't want to be classified as a bad mother. Finding that little things are really stressing me out (i.e went shopping to Tesco and the whole task just felt too overwhealming and I just wanted to leave the store asap). Am trying to deal with things day by day and take it as it comes - somedays am ok and other days I just want to sleep all day and it's only the fact that I have kids to look after which keeps me functioning.

BTW - not sure if this covered before but DD2 has come out in bad bad ezcema and been prescribes Aquseous (sp?) cream - which was pants as it done nothing to soothe her skin. Been a bit naughty and used some of DD1 old ezcema cream which I found at the back of the cupboard (Diprobase) which has reduced the redness and irratability. Really wish I could take it away from her as it is on her face and am so fed up of people asking what's wrong with her.

Also she's been getting really bad reflux for the past couple of weeks so HV recommended using Cow and Gate Comfort (1) as a topup to BF. Anyone using/used it?

Sorry I haven't had a chance to catch up with the other posts - hope you are all doing ok.

thanks for posting amani- I am sure we can all empathise with your position, although we are all obviously not suffering with PND. When i shouted at millie last night after she had been crying for 4 hours, i felt just terrible. And the worst mother in the world. Particularly as my next action was to shut the door and put my earplugs in as nothing i did seemed to help. But for me those feelings of being unable to cope are fleeting, thankfully. I hope you're getting all the help you need.