July 2008 - Now our babies are arriving let's have a thread to talk about them...

[minipinkscottish]

Hi ladies
I know there are many of us still to pop but thought it would be nice to start a thread that we can come to once the LO's are here

Abbie is 4 weeks and 3 days old today and my due date isn't here yet

Abbie is doing great - eating and sleeping and very content. The feeding was hard going at first as it is very frequent with her being early but I think you actually get used to being tired

Someone (sorry can't remember who) was talking about bottle and bf together and nipple confusion. Well all the times I have bf I have done so exclusively even when it was very difficult - I am stubborn As Abbie was early and lost a good bit of weight the mw advised topping her up with ebm through a syringe. This was tough as I was bf then trying to express only to bf 1 hour later - so I gave her formula to top up. Giving her the milk in a syringe became difficult as they tended to spurt the milk too quickly at times. So I gave her a bottle to top up( Tommee Tippee - closer to nature) and it was great!!

I bf her all day and then top up after bf at night to get a bit longer sleep - it's working - she is putting on weight and no nipple confusion

sorry for huge post - hope you will all come over and join me!!!!!

Your birth story is wonderful Poledra xx

hi everyone.
another scorcher here in copenhagen.
Elodie and I went to see Sex and the City film at baby cinema yesterday. It was really cool - a massive cinema but only a few mums in there. I took her in the lift or pull-out carrier from the pram but she stayed on my lap, feeding or sleeping the whole time and was so good.
Afterwards though, i was walking through the shopping mall next to the cinema and stopped to feed her. A woman passed and said "Cute!" and I was holding Elodie up and admiring her and doing the Sweet Kitty-style, telling her she was jolly cute etc, when she kind of hunkered down, screwed up her face and did a massive poo that came through her diaper and went all down my leg! Second time she has got me!

By the time I got home, I had poo down my leg, milk stains all over my top and a patch of dried puke on my shoulder that I hadn't noticed! And there was I thinking I was so cool in my indian dropped crotch pants, vest top and gladiator sandals. No such thing as cool anymore!

we've had a couple of slightly more decent nights, where she has slept from 11 to 2.30 or 3.30 and then waking again at about 6.30ish. Its coincided with me putting a top that I have worn tucked into the cot with her (HV suggestion). Anyone else heard of this?? apparently, if they can smell you up close, its very comforting and they may sleep longer . . .

She has got the worst skin at the moment though - patches of flaky skin on her scalp and skin build up on her forehead and eyebrows - kind of like eczema. i keep getting told to put breast milk on it but it seems kind of funky . . .

pigley - have a nice picnic today!

sk - would love to see new pics. are you on facebook?

sympathy to those with many kids. i was thinking about how tough that must be. with just one, you can still maintain a tidy flat and put mascara on (at least if they are following some semblance of a routine and if you are super-quick at things during nap times). But with 3 little personalities, its got to be much more chaotic (and fun?).

one thing I can't get round to is the washing - I need to go to a bank to get 5kr coins and can't seem to remember when I'm out. So Elodie is wearing clothes from her 3-6 month stash and looks a bit weird. And I am still struggling to find bottoms to fit (apart from my fat-day jeans). Must make more of an effort to sort out diet and do some exercise. Walking miles is pointless if you just nosh loads to compensate!

I'm meeting with my yoga mums group today. hope its better than the expat group I went to on monday - it was a bit lame.

Tjuice- at the explosive poo. Abigail did that last night. Dh got her up to feed, and realised that she needed changing.DH got covered in it and i had to change all her bedding as it was covered! Pleasant!

No Picnic today..
they have forecast storms today and rain but temps of 30.. so its going to be really muggy and horrid.
oh well maybe tomorow.

SK- shes an Abigail mainly... but im sure will become Abbie soon enough. And Abigail Rose when being naughty in a stern voice!

tjuice-
Abigails sleep pattern sounds similiar. She feeds about 10.30/11 ish then again about 2.30/3ish then again about 6 ish. not bad at a week old.
She used to stay awake after her night feeds and only go off again about 30 mins before the next feed
but seems to have been going straight back off last night.

The top in her cot is a good idea.. ive heard this before.. my friend has a comfort blanket that she did this with and it really helped. Worth a shot anyway.

Abigail is getting better at latching on now (with the nipple sheilds)but has such a strong suck it blooming hurts!

Anyway enough waffle... cow time as DH says. (express time)

Right, I want a refund, mine seems to have developed a malfunction where he won't sleep at night. The guarantee must be around here somewhere.....

Libra1975 - that is a design fault with all of them I'm afraid, did you not read the small print that comes with them

Just braved Asda with all 3 of them Asda is only local supermarket here B was great, DD2 had huge tantrum about not going in trolley then asked to go in trolley and DD1 was a star helping she has been promoted to big girk walking beside trolley now.

Had all the old dears cooing over them too

Hi all. Pigley, when do you find the best time to express is? I can hardly get anything - only done it three times and took me an hour to get 2ozs .

Logan had a bit of a bad night as his feeds got out of synch yesterday due to visit from cousins (aw, bless them)and refused most of his 11.30 feed, then woke at 2 and 5. Aaaargh. Am determined to keep him on track today cos he's out of sorts poor wee boy. Funny thing is, even though I'm really tired, I don't mind being up so much as I did with the other two cos I know it doesn't last and those wee hour cuddles are so special - just me and him. Still can't beleive how in love with him I am - he makes me cry just looking at him.

Can't remember who else said skin was a problem but he's got terribly "acne" too - really red shiny skin and spots on his face - think it's the heat. Am using some organic babywipes with tea tree in them to see if they help.

Anyway, this turned out to be a long post. Off into the bath now.

Morning.

Donutmum Sam's skin is the same, like acne, bless him, my HV suggested Aqueous cream, which seems to be doing it's job OK.. He is also starting to get dry skin on his tummy and feet, and I think I've heard that Almond Oil is good for that, although I used Olive oil with DS1... Will have to look into it.

SK Glad you got the sheet OK, and look after my spider!

Tjuice Was it you asking about putting a sheet in you pram? I had the same buggy for DS1 and I did put a cotton sheet underneath him, if not for comfort then to catch all the sick and dribble, easier to wash and change than the bottom of the pram!

I'm so crap at expressing, I do about 10 mins on each side before there is nothing coming out and I'm lucky if I get 1oz.. Am I doing somehing wrong? Should I continue after there is nothing, will Milk still come? Is this an indcation of what Sam is getting? It got me worried last night....

{{whispers.. I'm beginning to resent BF... feel rubbish}}

Donut./ Jodie... I dont have a best time to do it. I just do it whe i have the time.. usually about twice a day.
Usually can get around 50mls after about 15mins of pumping.

My pump is an electric one by Medula. Works really well and can change the strength of the pumping.

I was told the more i keep expressing the more milk i would produce. But im not BF every feed as such so maybe i hold more as its not depleting every few hours.

Had a bath with Abigail today. First proper bath apart from a quick splash in hospital to clean her bloody head which she hated.
She was soo relaxed and didnt even murmer. Gave her long hair a wash too.

I have a fitted sheet over the mattress in my prams carrycot. Much easier to remove and wash if shes sick etc.

TJuice - I have mostly been okay with my 3 LO's over the past couple of weeks because the weather has been good and DD and DS4 can play in the garden a lot. When it is wet it is more of a challenge I tend to do all house work early am and try to keep feeing the washing machine throughout the day.
My 3 older ds come home on Sunday and then the fun will begin They will want to go here, there and everywhere and it will be "Mum can you drive me?" ....and of course I will but it will be busy (understatement of the year!!)

And dinner times.......you don't want to know....but I love it....most of the time xx

Jodie - do not worry about the expessing - I can never get much out. It does not indicate how much Sam can get - babies are much more efficient than pumps.
You could try expressing from one boob while Sam feeds from the other, or try expressing while in a warm bath. These things can help the milk come down. I just don't bother - not worth the hassle!

You can prob guess I am very pro bf! But if you don't feel you want to do it anymore you shouldn't feel guilty. Sam needs a happy mummy first and foremost and you've given him a fabulous start.

FWIW when my DS1 was about 6 weeks he started having a bottle of formula once a day because I felt it was all too much for me to cope with. In hindsight I regretted that decision, it wasn't really any easier. I mix fed for 6 more months before stopping the bf completely. DS1 has terrible excema and is alsoi asthmatic and I can't help but blame myself a bit for that.

Finally I can join this thread! Sorry but haven't (yet) had a chance to read all the messages. This is what I posted on the 'due' thread:

Hi all, just a brief message to say that FINALLY after a really rather whopping 52 hrs from first contractions, I gave birth to (very probably) Poppy last night at 9.25!
8lb 5, so far, so mellow.

Birth story to follow when I can remember what happened!!

Good luck to those waiting... see, it does happen. Eventually. (do I win a prize for longest labour??!)

So so glad not just to have finally done it but not to be pregnant anymore. Hurrah!

congratulations min912 - well done you

I have about 30 seconds to write this, but I wanted to officially join the antenatal group, and say a belated congrats to all the new mums, and congrats to min912, 52 hours!!!! phew....thats a long one
Oh and pigley that is one seriously cute baby...I love babies with lots of hair!
I now have a child hanging off my leg asking for strawberries....gotta go.

Congrats Thepuddingchef and min More babies, yeah!

isaidno thanks for your advice, i'm kinda taking each day as it comes to be honest, and I know it's best for Sam, and there is no reason to stop as i seem to be doing so well (well better than DS1 anyway!) but it's so labourious! and restricting. I can't express much so I can't leave him with any one while i do anything on my own... some days it's fine, like today, but others I feel crappy.. oh well..

Can't believe my little man is 4 weeks old tomorrow. feels like he's been here forever!

Jodie - I had a crappy day today...Abbie was feeding all day and just settled about 5 mins ago but probably not for long....it was a trying day as it rained and dd and ds4 needed lots of attenion too and I was here alone....but I know that this will happen with bf from time to time as she grows and it will soon settle....they are little for such a short time....so maybe we should just go with and enjoy

I agree minipink. I think i'm just feeling sorry for myself, need to snap out of it and enjoy all the extra cuddles i'm getting!

Jodie, you're doing really well with the bfing, can you just leave a bottle of formula if you are going out rather than worry about expressing? It wouldn't be very often I presume so shouldn't affect your supply. I haven't done any expressing this time, I really hate it but I feel that I should at least give it a go to stop me feeling guilty as I did express for dd1 and dd2. I just need to persuade dh to get the pump and bottles out of the loft.

Can't remember who was complaining about silly things that strangers say, but I completely agree. I am so fed up with hearing that Bryony 'doesn't look like a newborn.' I'm not sure how I'm supposed to respond. Also comments on her weight are starting to get me down, I know she's big but there's nothing I could do about it, a couple of people have asked me if I was diabetic, I'm starting to feel paranoid that I've done something wrong or have an abnormal baby. Of course, to me she's absolutely perfect. I had to walk away from a woman at the park who used the phrase 'baby elephant!'

Hi everyone, sorry it's been a while but things have been rather hectic round here.

Congratulations ladies (and hubarb) on the births of your beautiful children. Sorry I can't remember you all individually. I do try to keep up with the thread on a daily basis but by the time I have caught up something else needs doing and I don't get time to post myself.

Infact I'm only up now as Luke isn't really settling tonight. He has the most horrendous cough and keeps sneezing so i am wondering if he has a cold. Wouldn't surprise me with the fluctuations in the weather. When he coughs he sounds like he's been on 80 a day for 40 years!

Had my final visit from the HV yesterday. Apparently I am bordering on PND . She asked me how I was feeling and I responded bloody knackered. Then she asked what help I was getting and if I was coping - to which I replied well my Mum is going into hospital next week for a hip replacement, my MIL and FIL have just been diagnosed with Cancer and are receiving treatment, I am ferrying them forwards and backwards to hospital appointments as FIL has given up driving since last week whilst he is in the last throws of RT and MIL doesn't drive so I am having to cope. When she asked why their other Ds' and DILs aren't doing their bit I advised well they are all out at work to which she replied well you are working too Libra. Then she asked about DH's involvement. Well he's at work all week and then plays cricket/golf at the weekends.
On top of all that I have been running around arranging things for my Nan's 100th Birthday this weekend and trying to keep a lively 4 year old entertained whilst feeding/changing/winding a 5 week old.
'Well I thing you maybe bordering PND' to which I retorted 'No, I'm just f**ing tired!!!!!!!' This whole business of sleeping when baby sleeps is all well and good if it's your 1st, but with other children is just isn't practical. Is anyone else 'surviving' on just 3-4 hours sleep a day?

And you wonder why I don't have the chance to post much anymore

Why is it when I do post it's all me, me, me, me, me. Sorry ladies I just needed to vent my frustration somewhere.

Hope you are all having a good a night's sleep as possible in between the feeds.

I'll try to be more proactive on the thread. Right I'm off to try and catch some shut eye, it's only taken me about 1 hour to write this inbetween sorting Luke out.

libra - it's not fair that you have to cope with all that, mostly on your own. And you need more sleep.
can your DH take some time off golf this weekend to take your eldest son out for the day? Then you can just look after the baby and try to rest when he sleeps. Tell him the hv says you may be becoming depressed. Even if you don't agree with her it might jolt him into being more understanding.

Don't worry about the me me me stuff; the thread is here for venting, complaining and cracking up as well as the fun stuff!

Thanks for that isaidno. He isn't playing at all this weekend as it's my Nan's birthday but we have all the celebrations for that so no rest for the wicked.

Out of interest, does anyone know if you can give a five week old anything for a cold? I think he is running a temperature, but I know calpol/paracetamol etc can only be used from 3 months (8 weeks for the first set of jabs).

libra - sounds like you have waaaaay too much on your plate right now. this is your forum for moaning venting and so forth.
you really need to get dh on board otherwise you will run yourself into the ground. i wish i could help!

i was surviving on 3 or 4 hours sleep but me and dh now do shifts (he does the 10-11pm feed with EBM while I sleep in the other room. Then he wakes me up when she next needs a feed which last night was almost 4am!). This works because when I sleep all night in the same room as Elodie, I don't get much sleep as I am a light sleeper. So I have a stint of uninterrupted sleep and we share the torture of rooming with a baby! Since he does that feed, I have got my sense of humour back! Lack of sleep makes me a misery . . .

Anyway, its only a matter of weeks really before they settle down a bit hopefully . . .

ponto - its horrible how pregnancy and babies means that random people can say what the hell they like! I think the "she doesn't look like a newborn" comment is probably a compliment though. Take it all with a pinch of salt, I bet Bryony is gorgeous.

Well, now my formerly photogenic daughter not only has acne/ezcema, she has developed a gacky eye overnight! Feel sorry for the little mite. She's still lovely though . . .

Libra- blimey you sound busy! Is there anyone else you can get to deligate some arrangements too?

Abigail had a feed last night at 9.30 then we didnt hear a peep out of her till 2am! very welcome!
typically she was then awake till 3 but hey... cant complain.

Abigail is another one who's woke with a gucky eye but cleaned up ok, so back to beautiful!

Right have a fiend coming soon, and we need to get dressed and i need to pump..... where does the time go!?

hopefully a friend rather than a fiend Pigley. lol

he he

She just bought me a huge bunch of flowers so def a friend!

hello all

A is good at night - last night

fed and bed 8.30 then we wake him 11.30 for dream feed plus EBM

then back to bed 12.30 till 5.30 then 9 am then 11 am

He woke at 11 throwing up and retching and has since sicked up more milk which is so unlike him - am thinking of ringing HV or is that ott?

Libra i think someone needs to tell your dp to help at weekends - you WILL feel like c&*^ on 3-4 hours a night of course you will

you need to stop doing so much for you AND ds's - it is not selfish..