June 08 babies - I know there's a few of us about!

[isaidno]

Thought I'd start a thread inbetween breastfeeding, laundry and bossing DH about tyo do stuff!

Let's make a list of members!

ISAIDNO - baby girl; Poppy Elizabeth; born 18 / 6/ 08; 6lb 4oz

BDQ - You left the house in unironed clothes!!!??? You are the slummiest mummy of us all.

Hello all. Think we should all stop apologising for 'egocentric posts' immediately! I love hearing what everyone else is up to/going through.

Don't want to freak anyone out about contraception, but I was taking Cerazette previously - and the result is now snoozing next to me! Neenz, the Mirena coil releases a low dose of progesterone which can stop ovulation, so it's not just about preventing implantation (like the copper coil). I had one a few years ago and it was the best thing - going to get another one fitted as soon as I can.

I am definitely in the dummy club - it can really help when trying to change Barnaby as he can get pretty worked up then.

Dramaqueen - also finding Infacol not much use - B has got into a routine of screaming every night - I can almost time him - from 9pm. I know we're lucky because it usually only lasts an hour or so and then he sparks out, but it's still distressing. We think it's a mixture of wind, tiredness and temper - but if anyone has any suggestions, I'd be grateful.

Our crazy health visitor is due round soon... my favourite part of the week....

DS takes after DH - he's snoring. Loudly.

DS is 5 weeks now and has only been weighed three times, incl at birth. (MW told HV she had been to see me and weighed him, when she hadn't....). So I'm off to get him weighed this afternoon and I'm nervous. I know it sounds stupid but because I'm BF it feels like such a judgement on whether I'm feeding him properly or not. And if I'm not then that makes me a Bad Mum right?

The logical side of my brain knows I'm being silly, so silly that I can't talk to anyone in RL about it. But thanks to hormones my emotional side is still in charge and I'm genuinely a bit scared. Thank god I can rant to you guys.

Hi PP totally understand your feelings re getting ds weighed. He'll be fine of course! How were his other weigh-ins? I am very confident BFing but those first few weeks it did feel like a test you had to pass when baby was weighed. Just remember, even if DS doesn't 'follow the line' on the growth chart, it doesn't matter. You are his mother and you know whether he is thriving or not. AS long as he is not losing weight... some weeks he won't put on weight. That's normal apparently (well my sis says her babies didn't always put on weight). I don't think you are being silly at all and if you speak to any BFing mother she will tell you she feels the same. After a few more weeks you won't even need to have him weighed.. you will just know cos of his size and the way he has been feeding that he is doing OK.

Theo was a good boy again last night - slept 10.30 till 5.30... Esther wouldn't get out of my bed till 6am tho! I got back in with DH for 90 mins. Wow! Must sleep better than I think with her tho cos feeling OK today. Let's hope this op sorts her out. She actually went to sleep in her cot at lunch yesterday but when I checked on her she was groaning and raising her legs up - so I think the hernia is def causing her pain when she is lied flat. I put her straight in her recliner (on vibrate of course!!) She slept for about two hours. Unfortunately Theo decided he would wake up from his lunmch time sleep an hour early... the joy of twins!!! Sleep when they sleep? What if they don't sleep at the same time????

Penguin, what Neenz said - if they're not losing weight, and you're not worried, it's fine. I know what you mean though - HV was round and told me B had 'just made it' this week as he's 'only' put on 5oz. Was a bit shocked/upset when she was here and now am quite cross! And he feeds loads.

Neenz, still don't know how you manage with twins, hope the op works out for Esther. And you can catch a nap today.

Sleep when they sleep haha! Havent got 2 but what if they dont want to sleep!!!! Fleur is not having any of it today she will not settle for a nap!!!! ANd mummy and daddy so desperately would love one!!

She is sat propped up with cusions on our bed watching us trying to get her to sleep or us falling asleep!!!

Oh well, AMber thats a good weight, fleur was 11 pounds today and she is 2 months old!!Agree with Neenz as long as they are happy and you are happy with BF then all is well. Im pretty confident with it now too and Fleur gains loads 1 week and not much the next.

I really do reccomend trying to establish a night time routine for those of you trying to get them to settle in evening Fleur knows the routine now and settles at bout 7.30pm and sleeps til 10pm feed

Re baths - I have a bath with Luke and he loves it - I hold his head and he floats and kicks his legs like a little froggie!!

Re FF bottles - I make up 5 and put them in the fridge use one and take one out so that when it's time to hve that one it's at room temperature. I boil water and wait 30 mins to use it.

Went for my 6 week check today and filed in the PND form. Aparently I am in the 'at risk' group. Oh dear. She asked if I wanted to go to a MIND workshop for PND sufferers which was a bit scary (MIND is for mental illness and I don't feel like I'm anywhere near at that stage). Red lights started flashing and I now have to have a home visit from the HV - great.

BDQ, I boil the kettle and then wait for it to cool for 30 mins, then mix with powder, then put in the fridge.

Found infacoal useless - gripe water working much better.

Have a question on bottles - anyone used the Dr Browns? Are they as brilliant as they sound and worth the money?

Hello all,

Been lurking for a while as not much has happened.

DLM - I used to love having a bath with dd1, we did it all the time. Only had one chance to do it with ds. We have a plastic bath support from john lewis (I think I saw Josies Olivia in a picture in one too) and it's really fab.

Ds is a delight, he is so interestd in whats going on around him and smiles and coos really often. He loves his sisters even when they are screetching with laughter straight in in face!

Thanks Neenz, Whinegums & Paro. He was fine, weight for age spot on 50th percentile. Prior to today I was fine about it and even quite bullish, "Ryder is fine, we're happy, don't need any HV/MW telling me how to look after my son..." kinda thing, but today really threw me. NB: There were a few things when I was pregnant I vowed not to endlessly discuss: baby weight gain, esp in percentiles, baby poo, nappies....oppps.

Neenz - I didn't consider that twins might not sleep at the same time. Poor you - altho I often think that you sound the most sorted of all of us! (BTW, my vibrating recliner is being collected tonight ).

Amber - I was wondering today exactly what happens if you say you are depressed, other than prescribing pills, what else do they do?

PP - they get you to go to counselling and support groups and the health visitor keeps an eye on you. I don't think I'm depressed any more than any other new mum would be with a particularly fractious baby, friends that don't live nearby and no parents to help out!

Sorry Amber, not sure my question came out right. I wasn't meaning to suggest that you had PND!

I know what you mean about family and friends. I don't have any nearby and those friends that are within a 50 mile radius don't have children. I may be romanticising the suburbs, but I also think the fact that we don't talk to one another in London doesn't help. I wouldn't be able to go up to another Mum in Hyde Park and start up a conversation expecting to ever see her again. Whereas I could do this in the town I grew up in.

This moning I was contemplating how much my life had changed and it reminded me of a friend who suffered from PND and her main issue was that she "wanted her old life back". I was just wondering how HVs/MWs/GPs deal with that...you've anwsered my question.

Speaking of meeting other Mums - looking forward to Thursday!

Hi all

I don't have much time to catch up today so it will be a self centred post for me. Although I saw congratulations were in order for Essie

My mastitis seemed to have cleared. Either because of the heat of because of growth spur, SJ seems to be feeding all the time since Sunday which is great albeit a little exhausting.

I have been busy trying to book appointments to view properties in Bristol on Saturday. Life is soo hectic at the moment.

Right I'll try to catch up on the thread a bit to see your news

Can we give cooled boiled water to our LOs? I don't know what the official advice is but for those of us with thirsty babies in this heat it might help. Mine just seem to be feeding for longer rather than more often.

Second what Paro said about bed/bath routine. I am very jealous of you all being able to have a bath with your LOs! And I love those bath supports - ours are from Mothercare.

Amber what was it that made them think you were at risk? I can totally understand about not having friends/family nearby. Thank God for Mumsnet! My PILs have gone on hols for four weeks and I will REALLY miss them! They only live round the corner and are always coming to take the babs out for a couple of hours to give me a rest (or I walk round to theirs with the babs, dump them and go for a sleep!) It is wonderful.

I saw another mum in the street yesterday with twins in a pushchair and she stopped me to chat, she said she had seen me around with my pram. I said 'Does it get easier?' She said 'No, they are easiest when they are that age (pointing at my DTs)'

Hopefully she has just got mumnesia and can't actually remember how hard they were at the beginning!

Neenz, yes you can give cool boiled water to your LOs - I think the advice is from 6 weeks. We're certainly giving it to Alex (on HV advice) and he takes it really well - not all babies will.

However, it is more important for ff babies to have water than bf so wouldn't worry too much.

Do I get a slummy mummy award? Was sitting in a cafe with 2 of my NCT friends this lunchtime, Alex was wriggling in his pram so picked him up, he wriggled some more then settled and sat smiling and looking around him and cooing. Proud mummy was smiling back and thinking "what a gorgeous baby I have" when one of my friends pointed out that he had done the most enormous poo which had come out of his nappy and covered most of my left leg!! And I do mean covered! He had one of those babygros with no legs so of course it just went straight onto my trousers!

I had to dash home and get changed cos I had my 6 week check this afternoon - or would I only qualify for slummy mummy if I'd turned up to see my GP with sh*t all over my leg?!!

Kids, don't you just love 'em?!

Hello, really ought to be bathing Peter at the moment, but he is asleep, so can't bear to wake him.

Essie - after the catalogue incident it might make you feel better to know that Peter fell out of his bouncy cradle (too stingy to buy a vibrating one) this afternoon. I had been feeding him for ages, realised I was starving, so plonked him in there without doing the straps up , he started crying, and by the time I came back maybe 2 minutes later he had slid out of the bottom and was on the floor howling . Felt terrible about it. The guilt of motherhood hey?

On a more positive note Peter slept from 11pm - 6am last night. However I woke up at 5.30 because my boobs were about to explode. Please don't tell me that I should be getting up at 3am to express anyway?

I gave Peter cooled boiled water yesterday evening when it was very hot (GP had said to do it). He loved it and took 4oz in one go!! He produced some very liquid nappies at bed time though so I guess that means he wasn't dehydrated last night.

Thursday I think I could get in between 2.30 and 3.00pm. I'm guessing that you wont want to keep LOs out for too long so we could go home before 4.30 and hopefully miss rush hour. If that's too late for you Penguin and Amber just go ahead without me. I can always come and meet you another week. I will try to email you, as well but not sure how it works on MN.

Penguin Amber I have just realised that you have to pay on MN for emails . Please could you email me the time and place to meet to: alison underscore e underscore bennett at yahoo dot co dot uk thank-you!

hi all.. quick post while I can so sorry as just skimming..allipalli am with you on expressing thing... know I should but am afraid sleep over painful boobs usually wins.

back home now and now wondering if I'm a bad motehr as not been near hv/mw in 3 weeks (although have chatted to mw on phone)... so no idea of weight etc although know she is growing/weight more. am assumign hv not mandatory...

bdq... am impressed by your ironing nature.. I was like that before the baby...

Poppy no, HV def not mandatory! I would stay away too except I am too nosy and really want to know what weight the DTs have put on each week.

Alli well done your LO! No, don't get up to express, after a few days your body will realise you don't need to feed in the middle of the night anymore and you should not get so engorged. if you express your boobs will keep making the milk.

Sponge LOL at your LO pooing on your leg!

neenz only reason I want to see her is the weight.. at present I'm going on fact my arms ache now after a long feed...was re her advice when I saw her..

What was her advice Poppy? It was prob rubbish - usually is. My HV kept saying to me... 'you can give them formula you know' Why why why???

After telling you all how great my DH is with the twins ('he isn't fazed at all if I want to go to bed at the weekend and he is left in charge') he has just said 'I was thinking today how hard it must be for you to be with the babies all day... when you go to bed at the weekends I shit myself that they are going to wake up and I won't know what to do' Bless!

Just having a quick catch up - ta sponge, think I'll speak to HV about gripe water as he's been getting infacol since Thursday with no effect. Did buy a dummy today - we've just given it to him just now. He spat it out the first few times but now seems a bit more interested. Fingers crossed...

My HV says it ok to give S cooled boiled water at the mo (at only 3 weeks) but he is mixed feeding.

My expressing still a bit poor today but have managed to squeeze in one extra session. Because I only express and dont bf, MW and HV stressed the importance of middle of the night expressing but I simply dont have enough energy.

Poppy - my HV visited me at home twice and has now left it up to me to go in when I feel the need.

Amberc - hope your home visit is ok. Am sure its just precautionary. I can imagine the MIND thing sounds a bit scary but the reality probably isn't scary at all.

Aaahhhh, crying baby, gotta go do my colic shift stint!

Amber I am getting home visits from the HV as I am also in a high risk category for PND due to suffering beforehand, and today I had a visit from my CPN (psych nurse) and it was just nice to talk to someone over a cup of tea about all the things I can't talk to DH/MIL/friends about and don't want to talk to my mum over the phone about.

have had a breakthrough on the dummy front, Isaac will take it from DH and he took another bottle of EBM last night. Quick question - if you're lo does not take the whole bottle can you use it later or should you then bin it?

hedgehog, I only keep Alex's bottle for about an hour if there's some left in it that he might have later, but that's ff don't know what the rule is for EBM.

alipalli hahaha, I forgot about the catalogue incident because I managed to miss Iestyn's fingernail with the nail clippers yesterday...luckily, he still has all his fingers, but one of them has a small cut on it . I think I cried more than he did. He seems unfazed by being hit/cut/well, nothing else...yet!

Also, expressing - DH did 2 nights taking the middle of the night feed, and I woke up at around 5 ish with massive boobs. I ignored them but expressed at 8 - managed 100mls in about 60 seconds...

Must go, Iestyn's crying, and I'm home alone