May 2008 - we just couldn't wait!

[thefortbuilder]

for everyone who's popped already and congratulations to us all!

baiyu just remembered MW said could have a period after 2 weeks of bleeding stopping even if breastfeeding....

hi everyone, no time for a proper post but baiyu so glad to hear you're feeling a bit better. you sound like you are doing so well all on your own and i remember so clearly how difficult it all is with the first baby. big hugs to you.

re. bleeding -mine still comes and goes 5 weeks after birth - i read somewhere that if it goes red again (mine does this too now and again) this can be a sign that you are doing too much too soon, so try to rest up a bit (not as easy as it sounds i know!). talking to mw is a good idea about any of these kinds of worries. x

LM74- and baby bjorn slings-I haven't heard anything specific for boys, but in general there is a theory (i.e. nothing definate to panic over!) that supporting baby by the crotch is bad for hips and spine, especially when the child is facing outwards- apparently that encourages the spine to bend the wrong way. IME, after DD1 in one for 4 or 5 months quite a bit, she's still normal so far! If its a worry, then change- its not worth the heartache. For general ease of use I'd suggest a ring sling. They can be bulky when not actually wearing them, so my latest find is hotslings- a pouch type. I played with one last week and its even more comfy than my ring sling. The downside is hotslings are a fixed size-no talking partner into using it- but they are pretty! lots of info on www.thebabywearer.com.
Jas is unhappy, I'll come back- just saw my name and thought I'd better see what I've missed. Not a sling guru, just a novice but very keen!!

ycbs- Asics has educated me on baby bjorns- I haven't met anyone who found them comfy before and I'm happier now they ARE right for some people. Asking about wraps, I'd highly recommend a moby for a newborn.Jasmine just about lives in mine, so much I've bitten the bullet and I'm getting another one. There is at least one on ebay right now....its blue and the moby website is www.mobywrap.com. It DOES look complicated to start with, and it DOES take about 3 goes to get comfortable with it, but it is her favorite right now. I have been advised it won't be great when she's heavier, but they were talking about over 1 year. No experience of that though! All the instructions are on the website, and come in a book with sling too. I've been told to look on utube to see how to use different slings, but haven't had chance yet- might that help you, monkeys mamma, with the tricotti? hth a little bit.
Sorry, this long, but it is just my opinion and what suits me won't suit everyone (or even anyone!) so I also suggest trying if possible before you buy.

kanga The email address I gave you before was one I don't check very often, so I will email you through that the one I check almost daily then you can email me if you need any ebay help .

Baiyu So glad you are feeling a bit better, and two weeks is really not that far away until your DP comes back from China, will that be for good?? You are coping so well, nobody can ever prepare you for how overwhelming it is having a newborn baby, and you are doing it pretty much all on your own, I know this sounds a bit slushy, but you will be a much stronger person for having been through this experience. Finn is lucky to have such a lovely mummy! I'm sure when you get back to Edinburgh, there will be some more suitable mum and baby groups. We have one locally that is at the health centre and is just fir new mums and the babies are only allowed to go until they are either 8 months or crawling.
Make sure you use your friends, it's great that you felt better just for having a coffee and a chat, try and do that at least once or twice a week, you're not asking them to do anything with Finn, but you get some adult company and conversation.
Re bleeding, mine did exactly what yours is doing by going red again. I would say mine stopped completely at about 5-6 weeks, but just before it stopped it went very red again. I thought it was cos we had 'resumed marital relations...IYSWIM' but I think it can just happen like that. It's all fine now, I'm sure it's nothing to worry about.

Hope you all had a nice Father's Day. I decided the best way for DH to spend it was by being a Father so I went to bed for 3 hrs this afternoon and left him with the girls....LOL! Well, I did let him lie in til midday and we had a really hectic day yesterday at a wedding and got home really late so I was knackered, it's not as 'diva-like' as it sounds.

Best be off, bug hugs to you all

LM xxx

P.S. Thanks for sling advice mumofK

i know what you mean ycbs! got loads to do but just going around in circles and the milk has been left out in the sun and has gone off, the washing is in the machine but won't walk to the line itself- I really wish someone would invent clothes that would do that......
hugs.
No problem luckymummy- I'm finding slings quite an obsession, but it stops me buying real nappies! I was dreaming about them (slings)last night, and I daren't tell DH I've bought 2 more (well they were on sale...)but now I remember about the other sling I ordered last week. That takes it to 4 I've bought. Really shouldn't browse online late at night (well, 9pm is late for me ). oops. really hope ebaying brings in the money!!!!

just marking this for later... i am still here & everything fine. catch up later when ds2 sleeping...

trying to catch up with you all is real hard with my vacant brain at the mo!

re slings: we have 2, a karri me, which ds2 loves and i find really comfy, but he gets v hot in this weather. and we have a sling easy which is great for quickly popping him in to get on with stuff round the house, but not very comfy for long times. we used a bushbaby one with ds1, similar to baby bjorn, but didnt get on with that, but ds1 was a big baby, not sure if that was why?

kanga- re boosting milk supply, have you tryed tiger milk, if not and you want the recipe let me know, its great stuff, i had to sleep on a towel when drinking it!

Still up and down here, ds1 got a stinkin cold now and i think ds2 has got it aswell, just been sick and it was very snotty!

Feeding still not improved, still really sore, had all the help possible and everyone is saying positioning is fine, but i am still soooo sore. everyday now i say right thats it we are starting bottles but i always find some reason not to, but then spend all day thinking, what if i did? would it make life easier, i wont be sore at least! so still really torn.

anyway ds1 has crashed out for am early nap, he must be poorly! and ds2 is asleep in my arms so time to try and get him in his basket and get on with stuff.

oh yeah does anyone have any winding tips, ds2 is getting it real bad, he gets part way through a feed gets really cross, comes off and goes red pulling up hos legs and generally looks like hes in pain, you can also feel it gurgling in his tummy. tryed all positionsand patting him, tryed gripe water, to which he acted like i was trying to kill him! still nothing working, he finally gets it put himself but i would like to help him do it quicker

sorry for rambling post im off now.....

I also use a baby bjorn carrier and have no problems with it. But I do like the look of some of the slings so maybe will need to invest in some.

Today DS2 gets his BCG injection, couldn't get it done before we left hospital as they were so busy. I hope it doesn't scar like DS1's did.

I am finding it not as difficult as I thought it would be keeping the house clean for viewings, our house went on the market on Friday. We will probably rent in the same area for awhile whilst be try to immigrate to Australia. Don't know how long it will take, trying to get a work sponsor otherwise will need to wait till next year after DH finishes his course.

Baiyu, glad you are feeling better and that DP is coming home in 2 weeks, where will you look for a place to stay near your moms or in Edinburgh? (Until August)

LM: Glad your eventful weekend went well

Mumofk: Hope DH doesn't notice all your new slings

Niknak: Hope today is ok on your own

YCBS- Hope you ok today seeing as its Monday, Is DH working away a permanent thing?

Kanga: Hope you sty goes soon

Flick: well done on getting back into old jeans, I have managed to get back into mine that I was wearing before falling pregnant. (But no real accomplishment(sp?) as still need to lose weight from when pregnant with DS1)

Otter: hope you are home with your precious bundle

Indigo: How is DS now?

Pina: Hope your two are sleeping better

Better go as DS2 has decided to take every car out of his toybox, He is 2 today and was very spoilt with swings and slides and sand pit and cars.

Enjoy your day

MF: No advice, but there is nothing worse when you know they are in pain with wind and nothing works. I am sure someone will some along with so advice

Duchess: Glad things are ok with you, you must have your hands full with 4.

slings i have been using the same babybjorn for over 6 years (vintage !), it works well for us, no deformed spines here and we used it until the DCs were at least 9 months old. Excellent for dog walking and I can get it on and off one-handed, which is very useful.

hazel hope you've gained and are on your way home.

4th babies Can I thoroughly recommend having a 4th? So much easier than the first! He sleeps loads, even after night feeds he goes straight back in his cot, utter bliss. And I was back in last summers clothes less than 3 weeks post-birth . Recovery has been really good - I have actually managed more rest this time because DH is working at home and my other DCs are very independent, even though they're only 3, 5 & 6yo. And I'm really relaxed about his crying, something that always drove me to despair with DD1 & DS1. So all in all, it's a very different experience and much more enjoyable.

mf - winding, I use the over-the-shoulder position and firmly rub his back from base of his spine up to shoulders and get his body as stretched out as possible. Or I lay him on his back on the table and rub his tummy in circular motions starting from the lower right - which follows the course of the intestines apparently. DS1 used to like being held face down over a forearm (he had reflux) but DS2 hates it.

Check the nappy isn't on too tight as well as that can cause discomfort when their tummy expands with milk.

I hope you find something that works for you soon but it does improve as they grow bigger.

And sympathy for the sore boobs.

Tell me about tiger milk???

Very quick post, hope everyone is ok.

Magicfairy - queen of winding and windy babies here! Try walking up and down stairs whilst rubbing / patting his back. Or try Infacol / Dentinox which I think are stronger than gripe water. Pressure on the tummy helps too, try putting him over your knees and rubbing his back. Hope this helps!

Could I ask for some crossed fingers for tomorrow please? I have to take DD to Moorfields Eye hospital to get her checked to see if she has / hasn't got the same eye condition that I have. I am registered partially sighted and there is a 1 in 4 chance that she has it. DS hasn't got it thank goodness. Thank you.

Wow DuchessNorks at being so chilled with 4?!!
Proud mummy momemt- Jas has been asleep in her wee chair half the morning-yippee!! ok, she's had the sling as a blanket, but I've had probably 2 hours hands free (yes I love slings but it is easiest of all putting washing on, pegging out, washing up, doing the dishwasher On My Own!!) which is a first without someone else holding her!!!!!!
Mitchell WOW at keeping track of what everyone is saying, very impressed!
magicfairy- sorry feeding is being such hard work for you and hte advice isn't helping . Maybe trying the odd bottle, just one a day and see how you feel about it? You might find mixed feeding more do-able? Is expressing painful too? Maybe try expressing one feed a day so your boobs have a baby break? Really feeling for you, its sooo tough when the feeding bit isn't getting better and all that advice isn't doing anything for you, daft question I know but how many of the folk advising have seen you feed? It could be the next person could just pick up on something that no-one else did. IIRC there was an article I linked to earlier that suggested that wind/colic stuff in breastfed babies went with latch problems? I'll go back and look now.Not that that will really help you, sorry. Have you looked on iwantmymum.com for breastfeeding advisors too? They plug themsleves as supersupportive of breastfeeding. Good luck with however you feed your baby. Please look after your health and don't beat yourself up over it. Big Hugs

lifeandhealth.guardian.co.uk/family/story/0,,1609514,00.html
hth

Fingers duly crossed and hope all is well Podglet!

Podglet: fingers crossed

even I think I'm getting boring with all this sling stuff so I will shut up soon (can't believe Jas is STILL asleep!), but I just read a blurb about moby slings saying they're meant to be good for babies with reflux www.bigmamaslings.co.uk/zen-cart/moby-wrap-sling-p-346.html. I'm not plugging the shop, they might be great but I've not shopped there, just using it for info!

Hi all

Podglet - good luck for tomorrow, I hope it goes well.

Duchess - you are making it sound easy, glad it's going well for you. I'm already contemplating whether or not I want a 3rd but it's a bit early to decide!

Mitchell - Jamie is doing fine now thanks, he's got a hospital check up appointment in a few weeks but so far so good.

Mumofk - glad you've managed to get a couple of hours non-sling wearing!

Well today is my first day at home on my own looking after 2 kids under 2 as my mum was staying last week. So far it has gone fine although dd has watched a bit too much cbeebies but never mind! I did manage to get the washing out and even straighten my hair!

asicsgirl - thanks for your support

casserole - I was inspired by your schedule to try to work out if DD had one and write down her routine. I got really confused the first morning and gave up! If she falls asleep when I put her in the car does that count as a sleep?

monkey mama - thanks for your words of encouragement over the groups!

baiyu - glad you are feeling better. I am in edinburgh, so if you fancy meeting up when you are back there let me know

youcantbeserious - ditto your monday mornign remarks. we had such a lovely weekend that I feel veyr flat today adn have called DH several times already

TheDuchessOfNorksBride - i was feeling apprehensive about my plans for three but you have raised my enthusiasm again

podglet - fingers crossed

IndigoBlue - glad ot hear you are looking good today.

things are good with DD and me. She dropped her 3.30 feed last night (only had 1.30 one) and i forced her ot wake up at 6.30 to have one as the HV told me at the start she should feed at least every 5 hours. However i went to a BF support group today and found that that doesn't apply anymore now she is 5 weeks - I could have got more sleep! it would be lovely if she went down to one feed in the middle of the night.

slings I have a wilkinet that my sis gave me and it is fab. DH loves wearing it and we went on a longish walk with DD in it and she was veyr happy. However, i decided i needed one that i could breastfeed in as I can't spend all evening sat on my ares, so i got a kari-me that arrived last week. It is fab! DD feeds in it happily. The down side is that she doesn't seem as happy just hanging in it. However, I am delighted.

this week is my social week adn I am going to go to every mother and baby group out there.

WW xx

hmmm you seem to be more successful than me youcannotbeserious! maybe i will try again tomorrow and apply myself a bit harder!