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

amber I hope Luke doesn't have colic . A has it, although some days are better than others. Bit worried that it peaks at 6 weeks, as we're only at 4 so far!

paro have a great holiday

dramaqueen your groundhog days sound just like mine!

Had a horrendous day yesterday - A was incolsolable from 4pm til 8pm and screamed the house down. Although he was clearly hungry, he was fussing and wriggling rather than bf and I was beside myself that he wasn't getting enough milk. Today have resorted to feeding him EBM which he has taken better, and has been more settled. I'm worried now that bf isn't working, although this may just be the colic which hopefully means it's temporary...

amber and sponge have same thing with poo here...

bdq -too right... even expressing feels like a chore.

best go as she has woken up...

Can't believe how emotional I am at the moment. My Nan has reached the milestone of 100 years old today. Better head off to bed ready for the celebrations later on, press, photographs and party!

Eek, I forgot to change my baby ktpie ! Actually, when DH goes back to work I'll need to be careful about that - I have him well trained and he's been doing most of the nappy changes. I think muslin great idea - they're so light, perfect for the clammy nights.

allnew - sympathies also on inconsolable baby... S was a bit of a nightmare yesterday from about 5pm till 9pm. Is it worth going to a bf clinic if you're worried about feeding?

Glad I'm not the only one finding expressing a chore poppy. When DH goes back to work its going to be almost impossible for me to continue to express as often as I do now and I'm torn between feeling relieved and feeling guilty at depriving DS of breastmilk!

Morning ladies. LO actually let us have a lay in until 7am this morning! Funny how my definition of a sunday lay in has changed....DH's hasn't, he's still in bed now!

Re: muslins as sheets, I do the same, but I've also been using the boho style scarfs that I used to wear as sheets, muslins, bf cover ups, everything. It's true, Mum really are resourceful. Real Nappy Network also recommended muslins as prefold nappies inside wraps, but I haven't tried that yet.

BDQ - I went to baby cafe and had someone come round to the house to help with BF. They each gave me different suggestions, but more than anything confirmed that everything was ok which gave me the confidence to kepp going (I also think just having a rant/cry with an expert helped). The two advisors at the baby cafe had trouble latching Ryder too, which didn't help practically, but was fantastic for me to see it was just me IYSWIM. They also made a big deal about me getting comfortable, sitting up straight, lots of pillows, foot rest etc, when bf-ing, which I hadn't really bothered with before. The lady that came round taught me the rugby hold and was just amazingly supportive. Wow, I've gone on a bit, but yes I would really recommend getting some expert assistance! I'm not sure I'd still be BF-ing if I hadn't.

I love expressing first thing in the morning when I feel like a milk goddess with overflowing boobs....5 mins on each this morning produced 130ml. I hate it any other time as I just don't get enough out for it to feel worthwhile.

Glad I'm not the only one using muslins as sheets!

DQ - my DH is pretty well trained at nappy changes too, he does the majority of them when he is at home which is great.

allnew - J does the same thing in the evening, hungry but fusses and comes off the breast after a minute and then screams, this tends to go on all evening except for the odd nap. I find if I am patient he eventually settles down for a proper feed.

Thank you all for the words of support re. bf. I think I do need to find a bf counsellor - am determined to persist!

Good for you allnew - it seems from PP that the right support can make all the difference.

Did I read some of you mention cranial osteopaths? Be interested to hear again if anyone used one, what symptoms it dealt with, any successes? I know some babies just cry a lot, but I still think that there is some root cause for S's crying and thought it might be worth looking into this. All thoughts on the subject welcome!

dramaqueen I've been thinking exactly the same thing about cranial osteopathy today, so hopefully someone will be able to answer your questions. DH thinks it sounds a bit weird, but so many people seems to talk positively about it that there must be something in it (I'm willing to try anything!)

BDP and Allnew - I took Luke to the cranial osteopath to try to get him to relax as he was very fractious and we put it doen to birth trauma. Also he was very mucousy - got recommended a cranial osteopath and I must say I personally think it's a load of bollox. Didn't make the slightest difference to Luke on either session ( was told he needed two)- is a bit new age and the practitioner doesn't really do much - more of a 'laying on of hands' like reiki so if you are into that stuff then it might be a peace of mind thing but if you are more practical (read sceptical) then it's £110 and a trip to Harley Street down the drain. Other people swear by it but I wonder if the baby would have got better anyway.

PS re Groundhog day - mine's the same and I don't even express!! Relpace expressing with washing and sterilising bottles I guess.

I think many of us have the screaming evening baby who is difficult to settle and tricky to feed. I think it is fairly common with babies when they get to that tired/stroppy part of the day. They will grow out of it - honest!

Ah, today I wish it was only the evening... today it started at 7am and still going strong... S isn't so much difficult to settle as downright impossible

Amberc luckily at the moment DH does the washing and sterilising but he goes back to work this week . Thanks for sharing your views on cranial osteopath. Good to hear all sides.

Just been reading the August antenatal thread - much as I had an awful time in the last weeks of pregnancy it made me a bit jealous!! Bless them - they're talking about what feeding bras to buy and whether they had packed their labour bags yet just like we did

Allnew, don't you worry... Bfing is going fine! I've been giving my two ebm at 6pm too and they have settled better. It is not cos BFing is not working, it is just cos tiredness peaks at 6pm so your milk may be low. Don't give up - you are doing brilliantly.

libralady 3-4 hour sleep is not enough - you are right: you are not bordering on PND, you are just tired! Hope now that your gran's party is out of the way you can relax more. Have a word with your DH too - his parents are ill so he should do some of the driving for them.

BDQ definitely recommend osteo - they were spot on with lots of things about Theo (eg. "I bet he was chilled for the first two weeks and then all hell broke loose" True!) and he has been brilliant since. It is worth a try I think. For £60 for 2 sessions I think it is worth a go. If you are in London go to the Foundation for Paedeatric Osteopathy, it is a charity and is free/a donation of £30 (suggested) www.fpo.org.uk/. No need to go to Harley Street! Sorry it didn't work for Luke, Amber.

Well Esther is good after her op, she has been giving us lots of smiles and just looks better somehow. Still a bit challenging on the sleep front. I have had to feed her to sleep last two nights (but last night we were at my mum's so a bit of a diff situation for her). It was the first time we have had a night away from home and it was OK. I am going to wait until she has her bandage off before I start trying to "train" her to go to sleep on her own. She is not far off, I just don;'t want to leave her to cry when I'm not sure whether it is pain from the op that is making her cry rather than her just being difficult and not wanting to go in her cot. Theo is still having teething pains, and I have used Teethha crystals tonight which seem to be working, I would def recommend them. Bonjela has been good too.

BDQ - same here - if it was just the evening or one set part of the day it would be one thing, and perhaps easier to cope with, but Peter seems to fuss and cry round the clock - I'm sure it's digestive trouble of some sort. Our groundhog day experience goes feed - wind - cry - maybe drop off to sleep if we're lucky - time to feed again. i guess it will pass, and the HV's insist that it's fine (though they did refer me for baby massage when I detailed exactly when and how often he cries). i think a good strategy to break it up is to get out of the house every day, even if it's raining or you only go to buy the papers and some milk or whatever. having visitors is an energy-sucker, but then it also helps remind me what a brilliant little guy he is and how amazingly lucky i am.

Neenz, glad Esther is doing well, and thanks for posting the osteopathy link; I'm towards the sceptical end of the spectrum as far as such things go, but it's good to know. We're lucky that P's arrival wasn't traumatic (OA presentation, straightforward waterbirth) so I don't think it's likely to be the root of the problem for us.

allnew, I'd agree that you should get all the bf help you can - NCT, La Leche, health visitors, midwives - they'll probably all give you different advice, but something will help. getting comfy, trying different holds, making sure attachment is just-so, and just getting a bit of encouragement... I'm sure I would have given up after a couple of weeks without spending a lot of time with a lot of wise women patiently helping me out. Even if you decide eventually it's not for you, you'll know you gave it a good try.
Most hilarious bf-training moment - when the hospital bf counsellor, having asked me permission to hold my breast to show me a technique (seemed mad, but hospital policy), then turned to my DP and said "may I touch your wife's breast?" - to which he replied "they're her breasts - and she's not my wife". Awww.

Thanks Neenz - I think I may try and get some recommendations for someone in Edinburgh.

Puddock - you're so right re: getting out and about, the day always seems much easier to manage when we get out. DH back at work this week, so visitors should ease off a bit freeing up time to get out and about. Re: S's crying - I was pushing for quite a while and he was very distressed the entire night he was born so it could be the root of the problem. He always looks in pain when he passes wind (and he passes wind a lot!), but he doesn't seem to be constipated so potentially digestive problems too. He finally went off to sleep about 8pm tonight. Bizarrely (and thankfully) he usually always goes down ok after his 10pm feed and only wakes up once.

Right cup of tea and bed. Apologies if I've been going on a bit about S's crying issues!

[smile) hi all ok not OFFICIAL June babby but A: couldn't find a May thread and B it was the last day so.. hope I'm ok to gatecrash a bit!

Daniel 31st May 6lb 11oz

tummy argh looking a bit jellified but ok with it for now previous stretch marks looking a bit pink trying not to worry too much
boobs looking great 5 mins before a feed!!

keep them moisturised and massage them they should be ok

the ladies having trouble - surestart run very nice bf groups with "normal" people take a deep breath and go !

Welcome sparklingsarah and congratulations on the bith of your baby. I'm only up now as I'm feeding my little monster for the umpteenth time today (well OK first of today - Monday).

Off to get some shut eye now ready for the next session!

Had a great day celebrating my Nan's 100th birthday. We had a professional photographer come and take some family portrait photos and we can have one enlarged for her as a present. He also gave us a CD with all the other photos for us to do with as we wish - over 150 so well worth the £300! He was with us for an hour and a half. There are some really smashing photos, so I will try and post some later and put some on facebook as well.

Nan received her telegram from the Queen and the care home had made the most fabulous cake. Afterwards, we left her in peace with her friends and we as a family headed off to a lovely country pub for a carvery meal to celebrate her life. I'd had a couple of glasses of bubbly so was a bit tipsy and giggly. Did feel like a 'release' though of all the tensions that had been building up IYSWIM.

As a result DH had to do the looking after the children as I was 'not in a fit state' well I was but wasn't going to let him know that!

Now he's gone to bed exhausted and I'm up feeding Luke. Can't believe he's 6 weeks old later this morning.

Well Mum's got her hip replacement later today and I know she's been a little nervous about it. At least Nan's birthday took her mind off it.

Now I've just got to keep an eye on my Dad for the next few days. He'll be coming around for meals, it's no more hassle as I've got to cook for us so peeling a few more veggies won't be a hardship.

Right I am now off to hit the hay. Ta ta for now.

morning all

welcome sparkly and congrats on your son

neenz glad esther is doing so well
bdq have you tried a sling? isaac loves his/ours especially when he is whingy.

right must go and get changed again, little tyke gave me a georg smile, then threw up over me

ahhh the joys of being a mum

libralady - sounds like you had a fab time. Hope you're mum's op goes well today.

Welcome sparkly - we've got a range of May - July on here so dont worry about gatecrashing!

Hedgehog - have pulled the sling out of the cupboard, DH and I going to try and figure out how it works later .

Off to visit the in-laws today - if my MIL tells me to 'mind his head' one more time...

5gomad can't believe it's only a month now until I'm down staying at your B&B! Charlotte's passport (for photo ID for plane journey) arrived on friday, it's ridiculous!

we went to the first of our 4 weddings this summer on Thursday, and despite taking a spare outfit for me, one for my sister, and 3 for C, we all ended the day in the same ones we started in - result! She slept through the whole ceremony and drinks reception, we took her out for a feed during the speeches, and I managed to eat 2 and a half courses of my meal at the same time as everyone else! my Mum was hilarious and officially deserves the title of Most Proud Granny, we had to rein her back a bit as she was showing C off to all and sundry. We stayed until after the first dance - I was knackered by then with aching feet, it's been a long time since I wore heels!

whinegums a heads up to let you know that Batman is on at the Grosevenor watch with baby this week - I'm going tomorrow with DH - he's v excited.

lurking but just wanted to say, Libra, that very glad your nan's birthday went well, and that you sound really happy

hi all -laurat sounds like you had a good day out.

Have decided to give up on b/f .. blocked duct still not cleared up and having another appt at consultant to drain it on weds ...with pain/constant attempts to fix it (to no avail) plus fact edie doing ok without it, I've had enough - its been nearly 6 weeks and nothign had really helped except draining it.

am trying to get edie into big cot as is too big for moses basket..what are people doing in terms of padding to support them if they try to turn or go on one side -just using bundled up towels or is there anything better to use?

rant alert bloody hv arranged to see me this morning, then asked if could change appt to this pm.. I didn't say yes as is not that great for me but changed it anyway so now got to go down to flipping health centre to see teh bloody waste of space woman (only want to see her to get weighed)... am ..