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

Hi all,
After following the June 08 antenatal thread, I thought it was about time I added my first post!!

My baby Timothy arrived on Friday 13th June!

Hi guys, not been on for a while as ds been off nursery for his mandatory 2 week summer holiday - I was dreading 2 weeks with both of them together but it was actually lovely, but pretty full-on! They are still sleeping in shifts, so Caitlin wakes up when Liam naps; it's great as it means they both get 1-to-1 time, but I don't get any none-to-1 time iyswim, esp. as C is attached to me all evening. I'll take that though as her nights are pretty good and I'm happy to have her tanking up for a few hours if she sleeps well after that.

But we just spent a weekend with PILs which gave us all a break - grandparents and ds both ended up completely exhausted though after lots of running round the garden!

Still having feeding problems, ended up with mastitis last week, partly because it's so awkward to get Caitlin positioned right with her hip harness on. I completely agree with the need to get real life support, without which I am not sure I could have carried on. I'm still a bit sore but hoping when her harness comes off it will settle down, till then focusing on getting positioning as right as possible. If this was first time round I would be ready to give up, but there were so many times with Liam when he was older that I was really glad I had stuck with it through the early weeks, so that's keeping me going.

Cranial osteopathy: I'm with the sceptics in principle, but I still took C when she was 5 weeks as she was having a lot of trapped wind and getting colicky in the evenings, plus the feeding difficulties, I thought it was worth a try and couldn't do any harm. Her wind has definitely been easier to bring up since (though that could just be her getting a bit older and digestive system more mature), and she seems much less uncomfortable in the evenings; but more impressive was that the osteopath picked up a problem down her left hand side that was confirmed by her ultrasound hip scan the next day, which we didn't know about at all, the hip problem isn't evident clinically. So ... who knows?

So glad the party went well libra and you are feeling better, you have had such a lot to handle! Hope your mum's op goes well.

Welcome Lin! And congratulations on the birth of Timothy! How's he coming along?

Ok, had a really busy weekend but an ok day today. I was really worried about coming to London after the last time, but Iestyn is so much more settled these days, and I seem to be able to cope better with the endless crying. Passing the 6 week mark has made a big difference, I think.

Poos: Iestyn does every other day but the two he does in sharp succession (although never close enough for one nappy) are huge. Colossal, in fact, a poonami. I'm now using wipes because dabbing with a cotton wool ball is like trying to empty a bath with a teacup.

Breastfeeding: Poppy I don't blame you for giving up, and I hope it makes life easier for you. BF is all very well if it works out, but it's not for everyone.
But on the topic... I have to go to my inlaws 40th wedding anniversary on Saturday. Dreading it. (Sponge, maybe your MIL will be there ). But, I intend to use the bf to my advantage. This is so naughty... My MIL asked me 3 weeks ago how long I was going to carry on bfing, and I didn't commit to anything, or think anything of it. However, my Mum told me that my MIL had said she hated bfing, and found it disgusting. So I don't know whether I'll be annoying and whip them out regularly and publicly, or whether I'll take the opportunity to hide with my baby.
I'm more concerned though that she'll grab Iestyn and show him off to everyone (my job, surely?) and she picks him up out of the pram or wherever without asking me. I find that really annoying and upsetting for some odd reason. My Mum doesn't - she asks if she can pick him up. I don't know if I'm just being silly.

What else? BF going well here. Neenz and someone else (sorry!) Iestyn feeds really badly in the evening, in that he mucks around, doesn't latch particularly well, pulls off and cries a lot. He's fine at other times, so Neenz is right about the 6pm (evening!) feed. I think he doesn't get the satisfaction from it. He's so funny, though. I feed him lying down a lot, but now whenever I put him on the bed, or any bed-like surface (but not his moses basket), he turns his head to the side and does the lipsmacking and sucking thing, ready for a feed! Putting him on the bed also calms him down. (But only for, like, 1 minute until he realises there's no food!!)
Still on the topic of bf, the counsellor I've seen twice now, she of the MBE, is quite important - I'm getting top quality here! She's called Sharon Breward and is ?president of ABM. Oh, and I'm also being a 'buddy' for another girl now! So proud!

Off for a walk in a bit. London girls, I'll be e-mailing in a minute!

Hi all, Laura ta for the heads up on Batman, would love to see it, must check it out. However, I always feel bad sitting in the cinema when it's sunny out (is that weird, I'm not sure?).

Libra, you sound in much better spirits, glad to hear you had a good day for your Nan.

I'm soooo glad I don't have PILs as I hear everyone else's stories - particularly MIL ones!

Keep meaning to say to everyone worried about clipping their LOs fingernails - I couldn't bring myself to do it, so got a very gentle nail file, and now the young master gets a regular manicure. Yes, yes, that is PFB syndrome, but I have visions of lopping off a tiny finger. And he'll never be a concert pianist then will he??

Had a bit of a morning with B, he wouldn't settle at all, and doing his angry crying thing, so stuck him in his car seat and drove to the local shopping centre. Ahh, he slept all the way, and is still asleep now.

The calming down before bedtime routine worked for a couple of nights... Is anyone leaving their LOs to cry once they've been put down, to get them to settle themselves again? DP got me to try it the other night - left B wailing for 10 mins the first time (and was nearly wailing myself), and then I went in. Didn't pick him up, just gave him a dummy and patted and shhhh'd him for a little while. Second time we left him for 15 mins and DP went in and did the same. And then he was settled for the rest of the night, AND went back to sleep after his 3am feed much quicker than normal. I felt awful leaving him crying, but all in all he cried much less than he had been when we'd been trying to settle him IYSWIM. Please don't report me to Childline......

Hope everyone else is doing well - can't believe we are now in August!

libra, your nan's 100th sounds wonderful - what an emotional time that must have been for all of you.

poppy, think you did brilliantly well to stick at bf for so long with all the problems. Our little man has thrived on ff and I certainly felt like a weight was lifted off my shoulders when I stopped trying to bf. Like others have said, it's not for everyone and you need to do what's right for you.

lin, welcome and congrats!

SA, poor little mite with her harness. Not surprised it's making positioning difficult. Hope things improve.

Essie, lol at the poonami! We're also using wipes - like you say, cotton wool just doesn't cut the mustard!

As for the wedding anniversary - of course my MIL will be there, she is related to yours after all! FWIW, I don't think you're being at all silly about your MIL taking your LO out of the pram or showing him off as if he's hers. It drives me insane when my MIL does this too. She has just given dh's granddad a collage of pictures from his visit to us - there is not a single one of me in them! So Alex doesn't have a mum then?! Also, she is planning an 'open house' when we go down to visit her in the Autumn so all her friends/neighbours/total strangers can come and have a 'look' at Alex! Over my dead body she is! He's not a fecking museum exhibit . . .

Sorry, rant over. As for the bf - I would just go without a top on so you can bf as and when you need to!

whinegums, thanks for the tip on nail filing - Alex's just fall off at the moment () but when they get longer that sounds perfect. Should I paint them too?!

whinegums - well done on the crying front. It's so hard to leave them to cry, I know I did it with my pfb and it took him 1.5 hours the first night, then 40 mins the second night and 20 mins the third night and then went straight off to sleep every night after that. He's now two and we ocaissionally (sp) have to repeat this but it usually works with just one night and a much shorter time. It is really tough at the time but it has always worked a treat for us and my ds sleeps so well and now he's in a big bed (since 19 months) he will often get up after I have read him a story but will put himself to bed and even pull the covers up over him. I'm actually very proud of how he sleeps as he is very grown up about it all. I don't know if it was the early sleep training that helped this but we will certainly be doing the same with Emma.

Welcome SparklingSarah. I agree on the boob thing. First thing in the morning I have fantastic, huge, pert round boobs. Never considered a boob job before, but if that's what they'd look like, I could change my mind!

LL - Sounds like a great day. Congrats to your Nan!

HH - It might sound silly, but I find I can cope with Ryder's crying provided he gives me enough smiles as well. There must be a magic formula: 10mins crying = I am owed one smile or something.

Poppy - I'm impressed that you managed to keep BF-ing for so long with blocked ducts. Edie's has a fantastic start thanks to you.

Essie - I don't think you're being silly, IMO no-one should touch your baby without your permission (I remember us saying the same about bumps!). I think you should do whatever suits you best and whatever will annoy your MIL most. If she does try and show him off, take him back and explain very loudly that he needs BF-ing....PP in evil penguin mood today.

Sponge - at your MIL! Let her have her open house with Alex sitting on your lap all day. And demand she gets you drinks etc, cos you've got the baby and noone else can take him because he's going through a clingly phase. (There's only one photo of me on Ryder's blog, but that's my choice because of very bad hair and very jelly belly!)

Welcome Lin06 - Congratulation - like the name Timothy.

Has anyone else got the mamas and papas Barnaby Button bear vibrating bouncer? (BDQ - I think you mentioned you may have this one). I think the bl00dy inane tune it plays is going to finish me off.....LO obviously loves it, but I can't decide what is worse, him crying or this awful noise....

Have just got out of hospital again. I had my 6 week check last Thursday and because I was still bleeding my GP referred me to my local (cottage) hospital for a scan. So on Friday I go down with my 2 dc's and give in my appointment request card, they say we don't have any appointments until Aug 20th!!! I say well the doctor has said it is urgent so they ask me if I can wait and they will try and fit me in. I agree to wait but point out that I have a toddler and a newborn with me and if they can squeeze me in early that would be great - I really didn't fancy waiting 3 hours till the end of the session. They were really good and saw me in about 40 mins. Sonographer says oh yes you've got retained products - take this report back to your GP and demand an appointment today! So back in the car we go and off to the doctors where they give me an appointment for that afternoon. So then I had time to kill so I took the kids to playgroup then back home for a quick lunch so we could get back in the car and back to the doctors for 2pm. I'd had enough of carting the two of them around by this stage but fortunately my dh was home from work early so he kept my toddler at home with him. So I saw the doctor and she said you need to go the main hospital where you delivered, I'll phone through and let them know you are coming as they need to examine you and decide whether they will operate. Great so now I have to traipse back home arrange care for my ds1 and run around packing a few bits just incase I end up staying in hospital over night. Finally at 4.30 we got over to the main hospital and were seen by a doctor fairly quickly who said we'll keep you in and try to operate tonight or tomorrow morning. Eeeeeek, I've never had a general anaesthetic before. Anyway the end result was that they operated on Saturday morning and found that I had some placenta left behind that had calcified and was a bit troublesome to get out but they think they have got it all. So hopefully the bleeding should stop in the next week. As it had been a difficult op they wanted to keep me in another night so I was moved to a different room of my own but this one was really close to the labour suite so I had a lovely night listening to several women having very loud labours!!!

So hopefully I will be on the mend now as despite having a quick straight forward birth the problems since seem to be dragging on. Must go as this is such a long post and I must go wake my ds up otherwise he will never go to sleep tonight.

PP, v good idea! Think I'll try the clingy baby one!

Josie, you poor thing - glad it's all sorted now but, as you say, ironic considering you had a straight forward birth .

Sponge, only if you do matching toenails too.

Josie, sending a sympathetic hug, that sounds rough. Hope you are all sorted out now. Thanks for letting me know about the crying/sleep thing too. 1.5 hrs must have been rough.

Forgot to say welcome to the new peeps joining the thread before, so hello!

B has been a bit whingey all day - apart from our trip out - but he has slept while we've eaten a nice dinner, so he's almost forgiven....

thanks for all teh support re b/f.. its really nice as feel a bit guilty about it all.. that said hv weighed edie adn she has done well (nearly 11 pounds) so don't think I need to fear much about her feeding.
sponge think you're very restrained re your mil.. completely understand re not thinking he is an exhibit (love pp's suggestions). essie what planet is your mil living on - its none of her business adn if it makes her feel ill don't hang around when you feed

josie - big sympathy for you for your dramas adn hope you're on the mend now.

Josie that sounds awful, hope it all sorts itself out now.

GF after reading what you said about thrush the other day we went to the doctors today and we have both got it, so thanks for that.

Got to go now so hi to everyone else, including the new people!

essie if you don't want to use wipes for the poonami you could use cut up muslins - i've cut muslins into six or eight - much easier to use than cotton wool and haven't got the alcohol in them which wipes have...

ktpie so glad you caught the thrush. Storm is getting better, but it is a pain giving her the medecine at the end of a feed when she's all happy and milk drunk

ok, storm has got into the habit of not settling between 5pm and 10 to midnight - any suggestions?

Glad the wedding went well Laura - we've got our first one in a few weeks, but its baby-free. I think it'll be the first time out without him...

poppy sorry to hear that you're still having blocked duct problems. It must be really painful.

Thanks for cranial osteopath story SA PP I have a similar chair from mamas and papas. The music isn't on enough to drive me mad, however, I really regret the musical changing mat that we got from m&p's. I'm always leaning on the music bit when changing S despite my best efforts not to!

Essie glad that Iestyn is more settled. Fingers crossed S improves after the 6 week mark... I've been using wipes to help clearing S's poos already, am sure it doesn't do any harm. I also have washable wipes that I use at home with water, which are great for clearing up poo.

whinegums that's great that your tactics for settling your LO worked. I have tried the same thing to encourage S to settle for an evening nap without success. The determined little bugger cried for hours . I will keep trying though

Sponge - when you switched to FF how were your boobs (sorry, that sounds very personal!). When I do stop expressing/mixed feeding I'm worried about having very sore boobs. When I asked the MW for tips, she said I'll probably have to deal with having mastitis. Helpful!

Josie - really sorry to hear about your hospital visit!

TGF - I feel your pain re the evening sessions. How is Storm during this time - is she just awake/cranky/upset?

Libra - Happy belated Birthday to your Nan - what an achievement, and hope your Mum's op went OK. I hope your family realise how lucky they are to have you.

LauraT - pleased your 1st wedding of the season went well but what a lightweight - going home after the 1st dance, we stayed until midnight!! Lol. Know what you mean about the passports - just applying for Ethans the photo for the next 5 years is just ridiculous.

Poppy - sorry you've had to give up the Bf but you've done really well to last the 6 weeks with your repeated problems.

Systems addict - ouch, I have suffered with mastitis and I feel for you. I have a friend here whose little girl also had to have a hip brace and she also struggled with feeding properly. Ethan had his 7 week ultrasound hip check today and thankfully everything was Ok.

Essie - you sound in great spirits today. Ethan does the sucking thing whenever lifted out of the moses basket - he got my mouth earlier on!!

Josie - you poor thing, here I had an ultrasound scan before being discharged to make sure everything had come away, shame it isn't done in the UK, would have saved you all these problems.

TGF - how is Storm tonight, has she settled? suggestions - warm bath (her not you), or maybe you in the warm bath, door shut and your dp with storm!!, music, massage, etc... and like all the HV';s say - maybe it's a growth spurt.

Everything OK here, hip scan went fine, Ethan has put more weight on, he farted in the face of the Peadiatrician(sp?) and he does such smelly ones - tell me he's not the only one! He's started smiling which is lovely. Still managing a good 4 hour stretch from when we put him to bed in the evening, but after that it all goes to pot, and he ends up in bed with me feeding every 2 hours(if that), but I just haven't the stamina to do anything else.I ended up going for a sleep with him this afternoon and we had over an hour, but when I got him up I realised that his nappy had leaked and he'd weed over our King size quilt cover - as if I don't have enough washing to do with 13 lots of bedding and towels to wash from Sundays changeover.

Anyway, I should go to bed as I know he'll be awake soon wanting Mummy but it's so nice to have this childfree time isn't it?

Another question - why are those of you bfeeding expressing so much, I just express if I'm out without Ethan and I miss a feed whilst dh gives him ebm. Is everyone else giving their babies ebm every day? I know you do Neenz. What's the reasoning, I'm curious.Sometimes I feel like Ethan is my 1st as things have changed so much in 6 years.

What a long post - you'll be relieved I don't get on here so much anymore, but with the business, dh and ds1, 2 and 3 life is pretty busy.

night all, here's to a night of lots of sleep for everyone!

Hellpo all, Sophie Here.

Essie we have been using wipes for weeks, gave up with cotton wool just out of hospital. Hae found a website that is great and you can get alcohol free wipes, also eco friendly disposable nappies. www.soorganic.com

Oh, and a quickie about Mils, I think they are all the same it just depends on the relationship you have with them in the 1st place. I get on with mine and she had an open day when we visited with pfb, showed him off to friends and family etc... and I had to laugh tonight as she was on the phone to Ethan and I said he'd started smiling as in this week, she assumed I meant he was smiling because he could hear Grandma talking to him!! I imagine that this would really irritate if you didn't get on in the first place, but who am I to disappoint Grandma living hundreds of miles away from her only grandchildren.

Hi Sophie, how are you coping, in your peak season?

Coping.

Sebastian has been really colicy and have been paranoid that he will wake the B&B's, last night he screamed from 6 until 11pm, we tag teamed supper and then I slept on the sofa in the playroom, tonight it is my tuen to get a full nights sleep. Luckily people are coming in for a few nights so bed changes aren't manic. How are you doing?

Sounds rough Sophie, we're OK, don't have a full changeover on the same day again now so that's a relief. Washing and ironing seems to take me about 8 times as long though. We need to get sleeping and a daytime long nap established by our busy winter season!!

Right, really must go to bed as Ethan's been asleep nearly 3 hours now, so if I'm lucky I'll get an hour before he needs me!!

N night

Deb - S spends half his days farting, and they are smelly indeed. Visitors are always handing him back suggesting that he has filled his nappy and its just that he's had a big windy fart!

Re: expressing - I'm not BF as S had problems with it, so have been expressing so that he has had some breastmilk every day. Not sure how viable it will be once DH back at work this week though.

5gomad - enjoy your nights sleep, hope the evening shift gets better soon...

bdq, can't lie, my boobs were very sore for about 24/48 hrs after I stopped bf. However, I didn't have any problems in terms of mastitis or anything. I spent alot of time with cold flannels on them to ease the pressure and the soreness eventually subsided. It took another two weeks or so for them to stop leaking though!

I also gave up bf because of the practicalities of expressing once dh had gone back to work. Because Alex wouldn't feed from me at all, I would have had to feed/wind Alex and then express every 3hrs all the way through the day and night (plus sterilising the pump every time). Plus, as I wasn't producing much milk, we were also topping up with formula so the whole feeding thing could take over and hour to an hour and a half. I'd just get back to sleep when it was time to start again (esp as in the early days A would sometimes only go two hrs between feeds)! Dh was feeding Alex for me while at home but couldn't have carried on doing this once he returned to work. Totally impractical for me to do it alone without going insane from sleep deprivation.

deb, you're absolutely right about the whole MIL thing depending on your relationship with her. Mine has always been pretty unpleasant to me so I do hugely resent her using my son as something to show off to her friends/neighbours when she treats me with such little respect and barely even acknowledges me as his mother . You're very lucky to have a good relationship with yours - seems quite rare sadly.