May 2008 - we just couldn't wait!

[thefortbuilder]

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

sarahlou Welcome!
Re: BF and short feeds...a couple of things to consider. Remember that babies don't always cry because they are hungry, sometimes they just want a cuddle or have trapped wind etc. Even though I am on DD no2, I found myself initially just putting her on the boob whenever she cried, then getting very frustrated when she wouldn't have more than about 5 mins. I found that if I could just jig her about a bit or cuddle her/wind her (sometimes best to get DH to do this too as they can 'smell' the milk) she would last out another hour or so. It may sound a bit mean, but I found that if I made her wait a bit, she would be so hungry she would feed much better and a lot more satisfyingly for me (and her), and when then go longer between feeds. You can end up getting yourself in a viscious cycle otherwise.

Tips for keeping her awake when she feeds, strip her clothes off, change her nappy before each feed to wake her up a bit for the feed, and feet tickling, gently blowing on her face and just talking to her, all works for me.

Re: sore nipples, lansinoh is brilliant.

podglet Glad to hear you are sorting things out. Well done for being so strong. Keep strong.

Well, I had the party last night . I was told within 5 mins of MIL getting here that DD2 needed feeding . It winds me up so much!!! I then had, throughout the evening, even my 13 year old nephew telling me that he thought DD2 needed feeding. How did I manage to not blow my top??!!! My payback was to escape to the bedroom and feed DD2. Only takes 15 mins usually, but they don't know that , so I made it last a good 45 mins, read my book, painted my toenails.....LOL!!!
MIL also bathed herself in perfume and therefore DD2 then stank of her minging perfume, everytime I kissed her head (DD2, not MIL!!!) I could smell the perfume .
Pizza was ordered but took over an hour to get here. We were all starving. Then, we hadn't ordered enough pizza (kids ran out of C&T) and even though we all put the order together it was obviously my fault. Cue nephews saying 'Aunty * I'm still hungry". Didn't get puddings as we had 2 birthday cakes, cue nephews "what, we haven't got pudding???" (quite incredulous!!). Anyway, they stayed til, wait for it.....9pm!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !! They all sat here watching Eastenders while I kept yawning and telling DH that we still had to wrap up DD1's birthday pressies for today etc. No hints taken.
Oh, and just to make it even more fun, I had a random bout of the squits at about 7pm???? (however, another reason to stay upstairs for an hour!!!!!!).

Today is DD1's birthday. Bless her, she is loving her new play kitchen and told me she will make dinner today for us .

Hope you all have a good day.

LM74 xxx

Sarahlou, I?m a first-timer too and no expert, but my lo was very tiny at birth ? 5lb 3 ? and so kept falling asleep during feeds. My midwife advised me to save the nappy change for half way through, so he would wake up and take some more, and it seems to be working so far. He?s just 2 weeks old and weighs 6lb 6oz now. I was also advised to demand feed, but not let him go over 2 hours initially, but because he was doing so well he is simply demand fed now and still tends to go no longer than 3 hours, if he does go 4 then the next 3 feeds tend to be hourly.
On the other hand I have been expressing and now he has some nipple confusion which is really painful, so I guess it?s swings and roundabouts?

Podgelt at your OH, and hope it gets easier for you soon. We?re all here is you need to talk?

YFxx

Luckmummy, why would they want to leave early its not as if you have a new baby in the house or anything. Anyway at least its over for another year, but next year it will be worse coz you'll have to do it twice in 2 weeks - aaaahhhhh.

luckymummy you were truly living up to your name

not much else to report here - sam still doing well, and eating everything in sight!

xxx

I can now officially join you. Jamie Malcolm was born by elective C-section on the 12th May weighing a rather large 10lbs 5 oz. We came home on friday and he is doing well, feeding between 2 1/2 and every 4 hours.

Congratulations Mitchell and welcome Jamie!

Podglet No judgement at all. Sounds like you've been given lots of good advice. Well done for keeping it together and being so strong.

Well I am in a rather blissful baby-haze. Finn is being absolutely brilliant. Sleeping a lot but waking for feeds and alert in little bursts. Still a bit jaundiced but getting better and not worryingly drowzy. Thanks for all the great breastfeeding advice, I won't worry about routine too much just yet I don't think. Finn hasn't been weighed since leaving hospital but I'm pretty sure he's feeding plenty, the midwives seem very happy with him.
I'm sure there'll be hard times to come and I'm very aware that DP leaves next Thurs (for 7 weeks) but right now, in this moment, I have never been happier in my entire life. Watching DP and Finn together is just the most beautiful thing and I am absolutely loving being a mummy. I've shared all my moans these past few months and I'm sure I'll share many more but also wanted to share my happy times with all you lovely ladies.

Just posted some photos on my profile...

Birth announcment

Just to say that Youcannotbeserious had a baby boy by c/sec today; 6lbs 8oz. No name yet but YCBS reports that he is perfect and she feels very blessed.

Baiyu ahhhh, I love hearing that you are so happy. Ditto.
Love the pics of Finn, esp the one of him side on, v cute.

Congrats to all the new arrivals.

Last night DD2 went from 10:15pm feed to................4am!!!! (6 hrs!!!) Yipeeee!

Must go and hang washing out....

congrats YCBS and mitchell! lm74 it makes all the difference having a bit of non broken sleep doesn't it! unfortunately not happening in our house at the moment but the wee man is growing like a weed so i'd prefer that

the sun has come out again yippee!!!!

Well my DD1 had a lovely birthday yesterday (2 years old now!!!). We still have some pressies to open as i was all a bit much for her. We had to sing Happy Birthday 3 times . She had a lovely party dress on, looked so pretty.
I video'd a load of her and her cousins and blowing out her candle etc and then the camcorder decided to wipe the disc . So now I have NO video of her on her birthday .

What a lovely day again today, got two loads of washing on the line....how satisfying!!

Hope you are all well.

LM xx

erm, it was all a bit much for her. Not I was a ll abit much for her .

Hi ladies just wanted to ask quickly about labour symptoms. I need the loo a lot (number 2's)[blush)and i feel totally wiped out do you think i could be a sign?? or have i got a bug??

Thanks for any advice xxxx

Hello all - am joining this thread as we welcomed Catharine on Wed 14th May after an induction and 3 hr labour!!!
She is settling well and feeding well - latching is still a bit painful, but am expecting that all to settle in the next week or so.
My wonderful DH has been an absolute star with looking after DS and the house and groceries and making dinner etc - such a fabulous support and so makes things that bit easier.
will be back tomorrow as it's past my bed time now

Hi to everyone and especially the new mummys

Feeling a little overwhelmed today. I think last weeks events have really hit home (no pun intended) and I am very teary and wobbly. My HV is calling later so will chat to her.

DD doing well, going to get her weighed tomorrow for the first time in 3 weeks, guessing she is about 9lb ish now.

Hope everyone is ok, sorry for not putting more.

keep your chin up podglet - am thinking of you

hope everyone else ok and welcome coolmama and catherine!

xxx

Afternoon all

welcome to all the new additions! Congratulations to YCBS, Mitchell and Coolmama.

We're getting used to being a foursome here. Had our first family outing in the car today (to hospital, for DS2's neonatal hearing screen). It was more of a production than I was anticipating - trying to remember everything for two small boys with very different needs (apple, check; toy drill, check; sunhats, check; sling, check; nappy change bag (forgotten how to pack one of those!), check; etc...)

So far DS1 is being a wonderful big brother, although he does pick up all his toys and leave the room when I change DS2's nappy I'm kind of expecting a meltdown at some point, but who knows... I have managed to put DS1 to bed a few times when DS2 has conveniently gone to sleep at the right time, but DP is inevitably doing more stuff with DS1 than I am, and I'm feeling a bit sad about this. No doubt we'll all get used to it.

For now I'm just fretting about how I will put them both to bed on days when DP is not back from work in time to help...??!! Trying not to spend the last week of DP's paternity leave stressing though...

Sleep is still variable - some nights (like last night) we have textbook 2-3 hour sleeps between feeds, other nights DS2 seems to have loads of wind/ poo trouble, feeds constantly and just won't settle at all except on someone's chest. Ah well, early days yet...

baiyu thanks for posting about how happy you feel - brought a little tear to my eye With DS1 I was so anxious about having a new baby (which way up does it go? Help!!) that I think I missed out on a lot of the lovely aspects of having a newborn. Feel very differently this time round - totally in love with DS2 and so happy to have our little family.

hi all,

bit hard to type one handed, have just settled a squawking dd2 and she is in my arms, so this will be quick.

glad all well. sweetbean, i had a big clearout in the no.2 dept immed before both my labours started???!!!

podglet how are things at home with (d)h now???

Well I feel exhausted today. just had m&d here for 3 days, mum really practically helpful, does washing, nappies, helps with dinner etc, but i still feel worn out from a busy few days. m&d babysat both dd's this am so that dh and i could go shopping for an eternity ring . ordered a nice one, 2 weeks to arrive.

went to tescos, minus dd's. had newborn nappies in trolley and lady on checkout commented how it's wise to stock up before baby born as it spreads cost out, i.e. she thought I was pregnant !!!! i wouldn't mind but i'm within a few lbs of my pre-pgy weight already and was feeling quite slim .

dh back to work weds. also getting nervous about how i will cope for 13 hrs+ with two girls.

apologies for all lower case.

where is pina????? pina, if you are reading this, r u ok???? not like u to be so quiet??

lm74

just had another reprieve- dh car wouldn't start so he could take dd1 to childminder, meaning didn't have to disturb sleeping dd2! AA have just fixed it with a hammer (old landy, brushes on starter motor sticking if you're interested!)so he's now gone- its only 5 min drive/40 min walk, but at least its fixed now, and DH knows what to do if it happens again.

I had my worst day so far yesterday- my cough came back Sun eve, so even more broken sleep for me. I had no energy, so tried sitting on sofa with daytime tv. however, jas is used to being in sling/ moving round lots so she cried the most so far, until i took her for a walk (in sling) and still took her ages to settle. I got a nap, and i dread how i'd been if no nap. I nearly had to walk away leaving her safe. I know to expect it, but yesterday didn't seem as bad to get me that wound up.
So, i figure i can do baby or cough/cold, not both. I went to the chemists yesterday but can't really take anything (got glycerine and honey thing that does NOTHING), and although i'm reluctant to take antibiotics even if prescrbed (really don't want thrush or anything to interfere with bfeeding) i can't cope as i am, and I expect baby life to get tougher before it gets easier.
Well, my coughing spasm has just put Jas to sleep (back to 2 hands typing!) which in itself is annoying- she's not known me without coughing my guts up, and she finds it soothing.
Right, only an hour until I can spread germs and winge at the dr!

mumofk LOL at AA fixing it with a hammer. That's what dp calls giving it "technical taps"...

So sorry you've been having a crap time. hard enough to deal with whingey newborn when you're not ill. sounds like jas was having a bad day too (good timing hey!). who knows, maybe she'll be happy to sit and watch tv today? they're so unpredictable... hope dr can give you something to help.

love a

Re shop assistants - they should definitely be banned from making comments on what people are buying as if it's any of their business!! I remember a Sainsbury's checkout lady going 'Ooh, very healthy!' as she scanned my shopping - I thought, what does she say when people come through with loads of beer and chocolate?

Reminds me of a B&B landlady - I had a job once where I had to travel a lot and stayed in B&Bs as normally I prefer them to Travelodges etc. I came down to breakfast with my paper, determined not to look anyone in the eye. SHe came bouncing over - 'Full English, is it?' Me: 'No thanks, I'll just have some toast'. Her: 'Oooh! On a diet, are we?'

pina my dd2 was born day before yours so we are at the same stage. my loss is pinky, almost nothing now. no snotty yellowness to report???? . any smell (sorry!!)

We used dr browns bottles and found them fantastic, as has everyone I know who's used them.

mumofk poor you feeling so rough. i can't imagine how tough that must be, it's bad enough feeling 'stressed out' with a new baby,let alone feeling ill too. dd2 still generally very good, esp at night, she has been going from 8:30/9pm to 2:30/3am, then 7am!!!! However, i think the accumulation of so many nights of broken sleep is starting to take it's toll. I feel v tired and def getting quite irritable with DH, who is wonderful btw. It's my own fault cos I try to carry on as normal, and have to keep reminding myself I have a 3 week old baby!!

Right, i need to go out to the gp to register dd2 and book 6 week check up for us both.

lm74 (one handed typing again!!)

Pina - yellow is normal, so someone told me; it's what it goes after pink sometimes.

Having an ok day today, been out briefly this morning, seen a friend and going for a walk in about 10 minutes - get me with the activity!! lolol...